What is radiotherapy?
Radiotherapy means the use of radiation, usually X-rays, to treat cancer. You might have radiotherapy from inside the body, called internal radiotherapy. Or external radiotherapy, which is from outside the body.
You may have radiotherapy to:
- try to cure cancer
- reduce the chance of cancer coming back
- help relieve symptoms
You might have it by itself or with other treatments, such as chemotherapy or surgery.
Most types of radiotherapy use photons. But you might have electrons or more rarely protons. Your doctor decides which type you need.
Radiotherapy treatment is given at tertiary centres such as North Middlesex University Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals or UCLH (part of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust). Depending on your cancer, your doctor may offer you a choice of locations to have your radiotherapy treatment.
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