Response Oncology understands the uniqueness of each patients cancer care. Our specialists private Oncologists work closely with dedicated nursing and support staff to provide privacy and comfort, access to the best medical care, and support for you and your family.
External-beam radiotherapy is usually delivered in a series of single sessions, with a small dose of radiation delivered daily over several days or weeks.
Most patients have five treatments a week (one session a day from Monday to Friday), with a break over the weekend. However, in some cases, radiotherapy sessions may be given more than once a day or over the weekend.
During the sessions, patient will be positioned comfortably on a treatment couch and a modern and sophisticated linear accelerator delivers high-energy x-rays to the target area.
Patients will need to keep as still as possible during the session, with a normal and natural breathing rhythm. The radiotherapy delivery only takes a few minutes each session and is entirely painless.
During a radiotherapy session, patients will be alone in the treatment room as radiation therapists operate the machine from outside the room. Patients will be able to talk to staff at all times during the session using an intercom system.
For external-beam radiotherapy, treatment will be planned using a dedicated CT scan to design the radiotherapy delivery. Our radiation therapist will advise if small permanent ink mark is required to ensure that the target area is accurately positioned for each radiotherapy session.
The radiation therapist will also inform patients if a further immobilisation device is required to deliver radiotherapy accurately and safely.
Your treatment will be carefully planned to ensure you receive a tailored radiotherapy program suited to your unique characteristics.
The consultant radiation oncologist will use all the available information collected during the diagnosis phase to plan your treatment.
Additional tests may also be recommended to obtain more information. Once all relevant information has become available, the radiotherapy plan can be finalised.
Radiotherapy can be a highly cost effctive treatment for cancer. Nearly half of all cancer cures utilise radiotherapy as part of the management plan.
Results depend on a range of factors which our team will discuss with you, including the cancer type, how advanced the cancer is when treatment begins, and the suitability of other treatment methods that may be given together with radiotherapy.
Potential side effects from radiotherapy treatment will vary from patient to patient, with the majority of symptoms experienced being of a temporary nature.
Our team will discuss common radiotherapy side effects with you, depending on dosage, location, and your individual characteristics.
After your radiotherapy course has finished, an appointment with the consultant radiation oncologist will be organised to check on your progress. Patients will generally require follow-up appointments for several years, but each follow-up interval usually becomes less frequent as time passes.
Your GP will be sent a radiation summary report after the completion of radiotherapy course. You will also be provided our relevant contact numbers for any questions or queries after your treatment.
