How is it performed? of Radiotherapy

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There are two broad types of radiotherapy:

Internal: where radioactive elements are implanted in the body or injected as a liquid, and
External: where a beam of radiation is directed at the tumour from a radiotherapy machine.

People having internal radiotherapy will normally stay in hospital overnight or for a few days until the radioactive implant has been removed. As a safety precaution, they may be restricted from seeing friends and family. This can be distressing, but does not normally last very long.

Modern external radiotherapy machines and planning techniques can direct radiation very accurately at a tumour and minimise exposure to the surrounding tissue. Sometimes lead masks are required to shield parts of the body from radiation exposure. Dosage levels and exposure times are co-ordinated so that maximum damage is caused to the tumour and minimum damage to the person.

It is usually important for patients to stay very still during treatment on a radiotherapy machine so that radiation can be targeted as accurately as possible.

Treatments may be split over several days or weeks and may include rest periods at weekends.