Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is a treatment method using ionizing radiation, also called "radiation." These are invisible, high-energy rays. All human organs and tissues are made up of cells. These cells regenerate to replace old or damaged cells. If cell division is disrupted and the cells start dividing uncontrollably, a tumor can develop. The radiation damages the genetic material of the tumor cell. Cancerous or tumor cells are more sensitive to radiation than surrounding healthy cells. Healthy cells can also recover faster and better. During radiation therapy, the beam of radiation is focused very precisely on the tumor to be treated. Radiotherapy is therefore a local treatment that is only effective in the area receiving radiation. To prepare for radiation therapy, a consultation will be scheduled with the radiation doctor or radiation therapist. They will explain the treatment and tell you how often you will receive radiation. The duration of treatment does not indicate the severity of your condition. The doctor will also inform you about any possible side effects, such as skin irritation (similar to sunburn), nausea, or fatigue. Most side effects are temporary.

After the consultation with the doctor, a CT scan will be scheduled in the position for the radiation treatment. Contrast dye may be administered through an IV if the doctor prescribes it. For the treatment, the patient must lie on the treatment table in exactly the same position every day. For radiation treatment to the head, a customized mask is also made. This mask is first warmed in a warm water bath to make it soft and elastic. The nurses will shape the mask around your head. This mask will only be used during the radiation treatment. After the CT scan, a customized radiation treatment plan is created based on these images. Creating such a plan takes several days, which is why there are usually several days between the preparatory CT scan and the actual radiation treatment.

The radiation itself is painless and you won't see or feel it. The radiation also doesn't make you radioactive. The duration of the radiation is calculated individually for each patient and therefore varies per patient and per treatment. During the radiation treatment, the patient is seen regularly to ensure the treatment is well tolerated.


Radiotherapy can have two goals:

- Curative treatment aimed at curing the patient. Typically, 30 sessions of 2 Gray (unit of radiation) are administered, spread over 6 weeks.

Palliative treatment aimed at reducing the tumor and surrounding edema. This results in a better quality of life. The number of sessions administered is fewer than 30. This option is often chosen for older patients.



In recent years, the accuracy of radiation equipment has improved significantly. Devices such as a classic linear accelerator, gamma-knife tomotherapy, or proton therapy offer the possibility of optimally modulating radiation around the tumor. Some of these devices are also suitable for radiosurgery, where a short, powerful, high-dose radiation dose is administered with extreme precision. The indication and the proposed treatment type are always discussed multidisciplinary, meaning that the referring physician, neurosurgeon, radiation therapist, radiologist, and medical oncologist work closely together to offer you the best treatment.