Radiotherapy
On this page: What is radiotherapy? | How does radiotherapy work? | Why have radiotherapy? | Where will I have treatment? | Travelling to treatment | How is radiotherapy given? | How do I know the treatment has worked? | Which health professionals will I see? | Acknowledgements
What is radiotherapy?
Radiotherapy uses radiation, such as x-rays, gamma rays, electron beams or protons, to kill or damage cancer cells and stop them from growing and multiplying.
How does radiotherapy work?
Radiotherapy damages cancer cells in the area being treated. Although the radiation can also damage normal cells, they can usually repair themselves.
Why have radiotherapy?
Many people diagnosed with cancer will have radiotherapy as part of their cancer treatment. Research shows that at least one in two people recently diagnosed with cancer would benefit from radiotherapy. It can be used for several reasons:
- Cure: Radiotherapy is given with the aim of curing the cancer on its own or combined with other treatments, such as surgery or chemotherapy.
- Control: Radiotherapy may be used to control the cancer by making it smaller or stopping it from spreading.
- Help other treatments: Radiotherapy is used before (neoadjuvant) or after (adjuvant) other treatments, such as surgery or chemotherapy. The aim is to make the main treatment more effective.
- Symptom relief: Radiotherapy is often able to relieve cancer symptoms, such as pain or bleeding, to help you to feel as well as possible.
Where will I have treatment?
Radiotherapy needs specially trained staff and takes up a lot of space. For these reasons, it's usually given in a large hospital or at a treatment clinic.
Radiotherapy departments are run in different ways, and their procedures may vary slightly. While this information will apply to most departments, you may find things are done a little differently at the place where you're being treated.
Travelling to treatment
While treatment schedules can vary for individuals, most people have radiotherapy as outpatients, travelling to the radiotherapy department each day. If you're driving to the treatment centre, you may find you feel tired after awhile. You may want to arrange for a family member or friend to drive you to treatment.
If you have to travel a long way each day to treatment, you may be able to get some financial assistance towards the cost of accommodation or travel. To check your eligibility or to make an application, speak to the hospital social worker or call Cancer Council Helpline 13 11 20.
How is radiotherapy given?
It can be given in two ways:
- External radiotherapy: A machine from outside the body aims radiation beams towards the cancer and surrounding tissues where the cancer may have spread.
- Internal radiotherapy (brachytherapy): A radiation source is put inside the body on or near the cancer.
Depending on the type and size of the cancer, and where it is in your body, you may have one or both types of radiotherapy.
How do I know the treatment has worked?
In the weeks and months following your course of treatment, you'll talk with your doctor, be examined and may have some tests. Cancer cells begin to die during a course of radiotherapy and this may continue for weeks or months after treatment ends. The examination and tests will show if the cancer has gone away, although it may be some time after treatment finishes before the full benefit can be confirmed. This is because sometimes cancer can come back (recur) at the same place or in another part of the body. If radiotherapy is given as palliative treatment, the relief of symptoms will tell you if the treatment has worked. This may take a few weeks.
Which health professionals will I see?
Health professionals who care for people having radiotherapy include:
- Radiation oncologist: a specialist doctor who prescribes and coordinates the course of treatment and advises about side effects
- Radiation therapist: plans and delivers the radiation treatments
- Radiation oncology nurses: help you manage emotional and physical problems such as side effects that you may experience during treatment
- Radiation physicist: ensures that treatment is delivered accurately and safely
- Dietitian: recommends the best eating plan to follow while you're in treatment and recovery
- Social worker, psychologist, physiotherapist and occupational therapist: advise you on support services and help you get back to your usual activities
- Pastoral carer: helps with religious and spiritual concerns
Acknowledgements: Reviewed by Dr Kathy Pope, Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre; Carole Arbuckle, Cancer Council Helpline Nurse, Cancer Council Victoria; Jenna Dean, Radiation Therapist, North Coast Cancer Institute, NSW; Adeline Lim, Chief Radiation Therapist, Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA; Helen Mott, Cancer Support Nurse, Alfred Hospital, VIC; Tia Negerevich, Cancer Connect Volunteer, Cancer Council Victoria and David Oliver, Cancer Connect Volunteer, Cancer Council Victoria.
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