Abstract: A composition and method of applying a composition of (a) between about 10 and 15 percent vitamin C, plus or minus 10 percent, by weight to volume, (b) a viscosity agent, and (c) water as the remainder of the composition to healthy surface tissue overlying unhealthy tissue to be treated by radiation therapy for thereby abating dermatitis, mucositis, and esophagitis normally attendant with radiation therapy, the method comprising the steps of identifying the healthy surface tissue in the path of a radiation beam proposed to treat the unhealthy tissue, the identified healthy tissue being pretreated with vitamin C to increase the concentration of ascorbic acid in the identified healthy tissue; applying the composition to the identified healthy tissue; waiting a period of time of about at least one hour prior to radiation therapy so as to allow the vitamin C of the composition to increase the concentration of ascorbic acid in the healthy tissue whereby free radicals from ensuing radiation therapy are scavenged by