One important medical use of nuclear radiations is radiotherapy. Radiotherapy uses high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. This type of treatment is usually delivered by a machine called a linear accelerator, which produces high-energy X-rays or gamma rays that are directed towards the tumor. The radiation damages the DNA of the cancer cells, causing them to die. Radiotherapy is often used in combination with other treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery, and can be effective in treating a range of cancers including lung, breast, prostate, and brain cancer.