Radiation Therapy Planning

Radiotherapy is the use of exact, carefully measured doses of radiation to treat disease (mainly cancer).  It works by directing x-rays at the tumour to destroy any abnormal cells.  These abnormal cells are more sensitive to radiation than normal cells so will be destroyed.  Normal cells within or close to the treated area will also be affected but they are usually able to repair.

To reduce the risk to normal cells Radiation therapy planning (RTP) is undertaken by a team consisting of radiation oncologists, radiation therapists, medical physicists and medical dosimetrists that plans the appropriate external beam radiotherapy or internal brachytherapy treatment technique for a patient with cancer, to minimise the number of normal cells that are affected.

Computed tomography (CT) imaging is often used as the primary image set for treatment planning while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides an excellent secondary image set for soft tissue contouring.  Medibord is a UK manufacturer of lightweight, patient positioning and immobilisation boards utilised in radiotherapy treatment planning to give patients accurate and safe treatment.

The number and frequency of radiotherapy treatments given will depend on the size and type of tumour.  About four out of ten people with cancer have radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy can be used:

• to cure cancer by destroying a tumour
• to control symptoms such as the relieving of pain
• before surgery to shrink a tumour to make it easier to remove
• after surgery to destroy small amounts of tumour that may be left

Radiotherapy can be given in two ways:

• outside the body (external radiotherapy) – using x-rays, usually given once a day as a course of treatment over several days or weeks
• within the body (internal radiotherapy or brachytherapy) – either by drinking a liquid that is absorbed by cancer cells or by putting radioactive material into or close to the tumour

For more information, please contact us here or fill out the contact form below.  One of our professional experts will provide you with more information. We look forward to working with you.