Types of radiotherapy
Radiation therapy can be given in one of two ways: external or internal.
External radiotherapy
External radiotherapy is the most common type of radiotherapy used. It is usually given as a course of several treatments over days or weeks while internal treatment may only happen once or a small number of times.
External radiotherapy is usually given during outpatient visits to a hospital cancer centre. A machine directs the high-energy rays, usually X-rays, at the cancer site and a small area of normal tissue surrounding it. You will be positioned carefully on a treatment couch and then the machine will be directed exactly at the area to be treated, often from different angles. Treatment takes several minutes and is painless.
Before you start your course of radiotherapy you will usually need to attend the hospital for treatment planning.
External radiotherapy doesn’t make you radioactive and you can safely mix with other people, including children, at any time.
Internal radiotherapy
Internal radiotherapy can be given in several ways, often as an outpatient but sometimes as an inpatient.
Brachytherapy involves placing solid radioactive sources inside a body cavity or in the tumour itself. Patients receiving brachytherapy usually have to stay in hospital for a few days until the radioactive source has been removed.
Radionuclide (or radioisotope or unsealed source) therapy involves using a liquid source of radiation which is either taken by mouth or given as an injection into a vein. Patients receiving radionuclide therapy need to stay in hospital for a few days until most of the radioactivity has disappeared from their body.
Occasionally, with radioactive treatment or with treatment with radioactive ‘seeds’, you will be made radioactive for a few days. You may then have some temporary restrictions placed on your social life. These will be explained to you.