Can alcoholics still get radiation therapy for cancer?

Yes: Yes, but limiting the alcohol use during treatments may decrease some of the side effects depending on the site that is being treated (for example, head and neck cancers).

Yes: Alcohol over long periods is an environmental cause of certain cancers. These often need radiation and many have hard time to stop drinking but should.

Yes: Alcohol does not impair radiotherapy's effects, but missing treatments and non-compliance can doom efforts. Alcoholics sometimes cannot be relied on to keep their schedule of treatments, and need encouragement to stick with it.