All questions · What each treatment is doing

Why does my radiation treatment only take a few minutes?

You are in the room for ten to twenty minutes, and most of that is getting you lined up.

The beam is on for a couple of minutes. The lining up is what makes it land in the same place every day.

Written by two physicians. Checked against patient information from the US National Cancer Institute and Cancer Research UK.

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Content last updated 25 September 2026 · How we write these cards · Report a problem with this card

These cards are for learning. They are not medical advice and do not replace talking with your own doctor.