Over 100,000 Australians are diagnosed with cancer each year1. It is estimated that about half of them will benefit from radiation therapy as part of their overall cancer treatment1. This means that 1 in 2 patients with cancer may benefit from radiation therapy at some point during their illness.

Radiation therapy can be applied safely to a wide range of cancers, and may be used alone or in conjunction with surgery, chemotherapy and other treatments. It is usually completely non-invasive, and accessed through out-patient clinics.

Radiation therapy is a highly cost effective cancer treatment. It costs only 6 cents out of each health-care dollar spent on treating cancer overall, yet it is vital in about 40% of all cancers that are cured1. With cancer being the leading cause of death world-wide2, investment in improving radiation oncology treatments, helping cancer patients access radiation therapy and building new treatment centres have never been more important.

Approximately half of the 100,000 Australians diagnosed with cancer each year could benefit from radiation therapy1. Radiation therapy is a part of the treatment program in around 40% of all patients cured of their cancer1. It also has a very important place in helping patients with cancer that cannot be cured.

In patients with advanced cancer, radiation therapy is commonly used to shrink tumours, and/or treat cancers that have spread. This provides relief from pain and other symptoms, which is vital for improving a cancer patient’s quality of life.

Many radiation therapy treatments are non-invasive and most are delivered in the outpatient setting, i.e. without being admitted to hospital. Radiation therapy often has minimal side effects. Each visit for treatment usually takes around 20 to 30 minutes. This means that most patients can continue with normal daily activities throughout treatment.

Radiation therapy is different for each patient with cancer. Treatment is prescribed based on several factors, including:

• the type, size and location of the cancer
• whether the cancer has spread to other areas of the body
• the intention of treatment, e.g. symptom relief or cure of cancer
• whether radiation therapy is being used alone or with other forms of treatment
• the patient’s general health and personal preferences.

External beam radiation therapy often requires multiple short visits to the treatment centre over a few days to several weeks (usually Monday to Friday). Generally a small dose of radiation (known as a fraction) is delivered each time, adding up to the total dose. This minimises damage to healthy cells, as the cells can recover between treatments, and maximises the damage caused to cancerous cells. Treatments are painless and are similar to having an X-ray or CT scan. External Beam Radiation Therapy will not make patients radioactive. It is completely safe to be around other people, including pregnant women, while in a treatment phase.

Brachytherapy may require a short hospital stay to implant the radiation ‘seeds’ or sources into the body. After seeds are implanted, or brachytherapy session with removable sources is over, the patient can continue their normal daily activities. Depending on the type of brachytherapy used, patients may be required to follow some simple radiation safety guidelines for a short period to ensure that other people are not exposed to the radiation. Particle therapy: this is a specialised form of radiation therapy that may have benefits over conventional radiation therapy for some patients and conditions.

Particle therapy is a form of external beam radiation therapy which uses beams of radiation with heavy particles and includes treatments such as protocol and carbon ion therapy. The first proton therapy centre in Australia is in the early stages of construction in Adelaide and is the only centre funded so far. A centre proposed for the Westmead precinct will be unique in Australia, including carbon ion therapy as well as protons, with only 12 other facilities like this in the operation around the worlds. The Australian Government provides financial assistance for Australian citizens or residents to receive medical treatment overseas when effective treatment is not available in Australia via the Medical Treatment Overseas Program (MTOP)

The side effects of radiation therapy vary depending on the type of cancer being treated, the area being treated, and the length and purpose of treatment. Side effects can also vary from patient to patient, even for those undergoing the same type of treatment.

While some patients report no side effects at all, most people having radiation therapy will have some mild side effects during and/or just after treatment. Many patients experience fatigue which builds up throughout the treatment period, especially if the treatment course takes several weeks.

Depending on the site treated, other common side effects include skin redness and soreness, bowel upset, bladder symptoms, nausea, and sore mouth or throat. There are medications, creams and other measures to help with many of these common side effects. It is rare that radiation therapy treatment would need to be stopped or someone admitted to hospital as a result of side effects.

Organs and body parts outside the treated area will not be affected by radiation therapy. For example, the skin will not get red and sore if it is away from the area where the radiation is being targeted. Hair will only thin or fall out if the hair is in the area being treated. This means that only patients with cancer in the brain, skull or scalp will experience hair loss on their head.

The majority of side effects disappear completely within a few weeks of finishing radiation therapy.

A small number of patients experience more serious and/or long-term side effects. The treating doctor will discuss these side effects in detail with each person who might be recommended to have radiation therapy. Radiation therapy would only be prescribed if it is agreed that the overall benefits of the treatment outweigh the risk of more serious side effects. As side effects largely depend on the location of the tumour in the body (either the original cancer and/or where the cancer has spread to), it is difficult to generalise about side effects. For more specific information about potential side effects of radiation therapy for some common cancer types click on the "Radiation Oncology Targeting Cancer" link below.

Go on a tour with the staff of the Centre as they take you through the radiation therapy treatment stages. This video was produced with funds raised by the "Dry July" campaign. Staff, together with Tonic Health have produced an educational video for new patients who have had radiation therapy suggested as part of their treatment plan. The aim behind the video is to help patients better understand what radiation therapy involves and hopefully allay some of their fears and worries.