Others

Before the start of treatment, the patient will undergo radiation therapy planning procedures in our department. The patient will be positioned on an immobilisation device. Then the patient will undergo a planning Computed Tomography (CT) scan with the immobilisation device. Ink marks will be marked on their skin. Be aware that the markings on the skin will be used by radiation therapists later as a guide to focus the radiation on the treatment area.

The radiation oncologist and radiation therapists will use the CT images to create an individualised radiation therapy treatment plan for the patient. Once the treatment plan is approved by the oncologist and has passed all the physics quality assurance procedures, the patient will be ready to start the treatment. The treatment is delivered daily. The number of treatments may vary, depending on the treatment plan.

External radiation therapy is much like getting an X-ray, but with a higher energy. The procedure itself is painless. Each treatment varies from a few minutes to 30 minutes, in addition to the time it takes for positioning and image verification.

There are many possible treatment techniques that can be employed for the treatment of various malignancies. These include using 2D, 3D conformal, IMRT, VMAT, Tomotherapy, Brachytherapy and many more. The treatment technique will depend on many factors and the best technique for the patient will be decided by the oncologist.

Possible side effects during radiation therapy

The side effects of radiation therapy are limited to the treatment area. Each individual will have a unique experience of side effects. These side effects vary from patient to patient and also with the type and location of tumour, treatment dose, and the individual's general health. The severity and occurrence of side effects depend on:

Areas of the body being treated
The type of radiation used
The prescribed dose
The patient’s general health

During the course of radiation treatment, the oncologist, nurse and radiation therapists will provide specific instructions in managing these side effects in order to minimise the impact on patients' quality of life.

Acute side effects

Skin reaction
The skin in the treatment area will react over time to radiation similar to sunburn.
Fatigue
The feeling of tiredness will begin to start about two weeks into treatment and last until a few weeks after treatment.