Radiation therapy (RT) is a highly effective treatment for head and neck cancer; it can be used for both curative and palliative treatment, depending on the extent of disease and health of the patient. Although effective, the toxicity of RT for head and neck cancer is well-established. In the short-term, patients can experience dry mouth, pain, inability to swallow, malnutrition, dehydration, and skin desquamation. The more concerning is the development of long-term side effects, which can include dysphagia, aspiration, fibrosis, cranial neuropathy, osteoradionecrosis, and carotid damage, among others. In this session, we will review the evolution of RT for the treatment of head and neck cancers. We will discuss the advances in RT, and the risks and benefits of these approaches. We will focus on both cancer outcomes and toxicity reduction with a variety of techniques, including 2-dimensional (2-D), 3-dimensional (3-D), and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). We will discuss the key details in the transition from one technique to another, and the nuances of appropriate treatment in terms of dose, target, and technique. We will discuss how to prioritize patients for each technique, key points about contouring normal tissues and tumours, and recommendations for evaluation and follow-up of these patients, focusing on relevant information for the patients seen in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).