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Learn more about radiation therapy

Around half of all cancer patients receive radiation therapy

There are many ways to have radiation therapy but they all work in a similar way. Carefully controlled high-energy X-rays destroy or damage cancer cells. This helps stop their growing or spreading.

Radiation therapy is usually delivered in daily intervals called ‘fractions’. This allows time between treatments for the healthy cells to repair and the cancer cells to die off.

Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy (internal radiation therapy) is a type of radiation therapy. It involves placing a tiny amount of radioactive material into, or next to the tumour. Depending on the type of cancer being treated, material may be inserted using a very thin needle or wire, an applicator, or radioactive beads or ‘seeds’.

Brachytherapy at GenesisCare

Find out more about brachytherapy, including how it works and who it’s for.

Deep inspiration breath hold

Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) is a simple technique used to help treat cancer in the breast or chest wall. It’s precisely targeted and intended to cause less damage to the heart and lungs.

DIBH at GenesisCare

Find out more about DIBH, including how it works and who it’s for.

External beam radiation therapy

External beam radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation beams to destroy cancer cells. Before your treatment begins, we’ll take some imaging scans to establish the precise shape, size and location of the tumour. If your treatment is after your tumour removal surgery, then we’ll take scans to examine the area where the tumour was removed.

EBRT at GenesisCare

Find out more about EBRT, including how it works and who it’s for.

Gamma knife radiosurgery

Gamma knife radiosurgery uses computer-guided radiation to treat a range of cancers and brain conditions. Gamma knife radiosurgery is a form of radiation therapy technology which can deliver large doses of targeted radiation, thereby helping to minimise radiation to the surrounding healthy cells.

Gamma knife radiosurgery at GenesisCare

Find out more about Gamma knife radiosurgery, including how it works and who it's for.

Image-guided radiation therapy

IGRT uses X-rays and scans before, and during, your treatment. It’s used to verify your position and anatomy before the treatment machine is turned on.

  • The scans show the exact shape, size and location of the tumour. We can then make tiny adjustments to precisely target the treatment area
  • IGRT can target cancers that move during, or between, treatment sessions. For example, lung cancers that move as you breathe. Or prostate cancer that can move depending on whether your bowel is full or empty

Intensity modulated radiation therapy

IMRT is a ‘conformal’ radiation therapy. This means radiation beams are shaped to surround the treatment area, with the aim to avoid damaging the surrounding healthy tissue.

IMRT at GenesisCare

Find out more about IMRT, including how it works and who it’s for.

Magnetic Resonance Image-Guided Radiotherapy (MRIgRT)

The magnetic resonance image-guided radiation therapy (MRIgRT) technology combines high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning offering improved soft-tissue visualisation, daily real-time imaging and the opportunity for adaptive radiation therapy to adjust for any anatomical changes that take place during treatment. The MRIgRT can be used to treat a range of tumours.

MRIgRT at GenesisCare

Find out more about MRIgRT technology including how it works and who it's for.

Palliative radiation therapy

Palliative radiation therapy’s aim isn’t to cure cancer. he focus is on giving patients quality of life by helping control symptoms.

Palliative radiation therapy at GenesisCare

Find out more about palliative radiation therapy, including how it works and who it’s for.

Stereotactic ablative radiation therapy

SABR targets tumours in the body with high doses of radiation therapy. It destroys cancer cells with minimum damage to surrounding healthy tissues.

SABR at GenesisCare

Find out more about SABR, including how it works and who it’s for.

Stereotactic radiosurgery

SRS is a non-surgical treatment for some types of cranial cancers. It aims to deliver high doses of targeted radiation therapy which helps to reduce damage to nearby healthy tissue.

  • It’s often used to treat small tumours of the brain
  • It’s accurate to within one to two millimetres

Surface guided radiation therapy

SGRT uses modern 3D camera technology aiming to target and help kill cancer cells.

SGRT at GenesisCare

Find out more about SGRT, including how it works and who it’s for.

Volumetric modulated arc therapy

Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is a type of IMRT. VMAT aims to be both accurate and offers the opportunity to maximise radiation to the tumour. The surrounding healthy tissue receives a lower dose, and this can help to reduce the risk of side-effects.

  • VMAT delivers a continuous beam of radiation therapy in an arc that moves around the tumour. It automatically changes the beam shape and radiation dose as it moves
  • Treatment sessions with VMAT are usually around 10 minutes
  • VMAT can be used when the tumour is close to critical organs. It helps them avoid being damaged by radiation

VMAT at GenesisCare

Find out more about VMAT, including how it works and who it’s for.

Potential radiation therapy side-effects

Some patients may experience side-effects from their radiation therapy treatment. If side-effects do occur, please let your GenesisCare treatment team know as soon as possible, and they will then monitor the side effects closely. Potential side-effects of radiation therapy may include:

  1. Tiredness
  2. Skin changes
  3. Swelling and build up of fluids
  4. Hair loss
  5. Stress, anxiety, and other coping issues

Helpful resources

We understand that you may still have some unanswered questions, and we’re here to help you in any way we can. But if you are still seeking answers visit Targeting Cancer for further information about radiation therapy or contact a staff member from a centre near you.

Disclaimer

Any procedure including treatments involving radiation carry risks, including skin irritation and associated pain. Before proceeding with a referral for treatment, patients should be advised to seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. As in any medical procedure, patient experiences and outcomes will vary.