Radiotherapy is a targeted treatment for cancer that uses high-energy rays to disrupt the growth of cancer cells with the goal of killing them, slowing down growth and shrinking tumours. Radiation therapy can be used as the primary cancer treatment or in conjunction with other forms of treatment.
Palliative radiation therapy may be used to shrink tumours and relieve symptoms when destroying all the cancer cells isn't possible. The goal is to improve quality of life by reducing pressure, pain, and other symptoms. The course of treatment is usually administered over several days or weeks, coming in daily on an outpatient basis.
Radiotherapy units are housed at the Durban (Berea) and Umhlanga centres. The radiotherapy department is operated separately from the doctors' practice by Icon Radiotherapy, a specialised healthcare company that employs radiotherapists and medical physicists.
Externally
The most common type of radiotherapy: the radiation is delivered from a machine outside of the body. A machine called a linear accelerator (or linac) creates the radiation beam for x-ray or photon radiation therapy.
Internally
You drink a radioactive liquid that is taken up by the cancer cells, or radioactive material is placed in or close to the cancer cells. This includes brachytherapy, SIRT (selective internal radiation therapy) and radioactive iodine therapy.
Radiosurgery
A specialist type of external radiotherapy used to treat certain tumours. No actual surgery takes place. Large, precise doses of radiation are focused on the tumour for a short time.
This information is general and is not a substitute for medical advice. Treatment recommendations depend on each person's individual clinical circumstances and are made together with your oncologist.