Even if we could reliably locate every cancer cell, it would still not be possible to cure every cancer by radiation treatment. This is basically because the reactions of the normal tissues force us to limit doses to a level which cannot cure some cancers. Whether or not a cancer can be cured depends on its location, size, and type, and the general conditions of the patient.
The location is important for two reasons. Firstly, a cancer located in or near tissues which give rise to dangerous or otherwise severe radiation reactions cannot safely be given the same dose as one in a less critical location. Secondly, cancers whose cells look exactly the same under the microscope have different chances of being cured by radiation depending on where in the body they started. The reasons for this are not really understood but it is a fact that should be taken into account by your radiotherapist when planning a treatment. For example, a cancer starting just above the voice-box is less likely to be cured by radiation than exactly the same type of cancer starting in the vocal cords.
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