The process of BNCT involves several steps. First, a boron-containing compound is administered to the patient. This compound preferentially accumulates in cancerous tissues. Following sufficient uptake, the patient is exposed to a neutron beam. The neutrons interact with the ^10B atoms, leading to a nuclear reaction that produces alpha particles and lithium nuclei. These particles have a very short range, typically less than the diameter of a cell, ensuring that their destructive energy is confined to cancer cells containing ^10B.
