Radiotherapy uses high doses of radiation, aimed at the tumours. Radiation can damage the cancer cells by breaking the DNA strands apart. The DNA is a code of instructions that tell the cancer cell how to survive. When the strands are broken, the cancer cell dies.

Radiotherapy is mostly used in cancer treatment. Sometimes it's used to treat non-cancerous (benign) tumours or some blood disorders or conditions like thyroid diseases. At low doses, we can use radiation beams in X-rays.

Radiotherapy uses radiation beams directed at the tumour and is focused on one area of your body.

Chemotherapy is a medicine designed to destroy cancer cells and can be given in a number of ways, such as in tablet form or through a vein (intravenously).

The best form of treatment for you will depend on many factors like your type of cancer or the stage your cancer is at. Often, chemotherapy and radiotherapy can complement each other and be used together.

While newer radiotherapy techniques mean fewer side effects than earlier forms of radiotherapy, there are still side effects that you may experience, as with any treatment.

Common side effects include:

• Tiredness
• Skin changes and inflammation
• Swelling and build up of fluids
• Hair loss
• Stress, anxiety and other coping issues are also common

Your care team at GenesisCare can help you manage side effects with medication if needed, advice about diet or your daily routine, and additional support such as wellbeing therapies and exercise medicine.

Our highly experienced cancer experts work as teams to ensure that every patient has access to world-class cancer care within days of diagnosis.

All our consultants also work for large regional NHS hospitals which means they have extensive experience and are familiar with the local healthcare networks.

Radiotherapy uses high energy radiation to kill cancer cells. At GenesisCare, our state-of-the-art linear technologies use X-rays and gamma rays to precisely target and destroy tumours within the body and electrons for tumours on the skin.

Radiotherapy does not kill cancer cells right away – it can take a few days or weeks. Then they will continue to die for weeks or months after your treatment course has ended. You will have a follow-up with your doctor after your treatment to assess how well it has worked.

More than half of all people diagnosed with cancer will need radiotherapy as part of their treatment, and radiotherapy has been included in the treatment plan for 40% of cancers cured. Timely access to the latest equipment and techniques can help to improve outcomes.

Almost all private medical insurers will pay for cancer treatment from the time of diagnosis, including radiotherapy and follow-up appointments.

Private treatment at GenesisCare can give you access to these latest treatments, quickly.