Treatment Pathway: Radiotherapy (Radiation Therapy) at Onco-Life
Radiotherapy uses high-precision radiation to destroy cancer cells or stop them from growing. Patients often imagine radiation as “burning” or a painful procedure. In reality, modern radiotherapy is a planned, step-by-step process focused on accuracy and safety—so treatment targets the cancer while protecting normal organs as much as possible.
This page explains the radiotherapy journey at Onco-Life Hospital from consultation to recovery and follow-up.
Important: Timelines vary by cancer type, urgency, fitness, and complexity of planning. The ranges below are typical and are not promises.
At a glance: Radiotherapy in 6 steps
Radiotherapy is usually given over weeks. Monitoring ensures side effects are caught early.
Consultation (Meeting the Radiation Oncologist)
What happens
- You meet the Radiation Oncologist to review your reports and understand your symptoms.
- Your doctor explains why radiation is being advised, such as:
- to cure (definitive treatment),
- after surgery to reduce recurrence risk,
- before surgery in some cancers,
- to control symptoms (pain/bleeding) when needed.
- The doctor clarifies whether radiation will be:
- alone, or
- combined with chemotherapy (called “chemo-radiation” in certain cancers).
What to bring
- Biopsy/histopathology ± IHC reports
- Scan reports + images (CT/MRI/PET-CT if done)
- Surgery notes/discharge summary (if already operated)
- Current medicines list and any implants/pacemakers info (important for planning)
Typical timelines (safe range)
- Consultation appointment: same day to 3 days (depending on availability/urgency)
Diagnosis & staging (Confirm the plan foundation)
What happens
Radiotherapy planning depends on accurate diagnosis and staging, so the team confirms:
- cancer type and location (biopsy-based)
- stage/extent (scans)
- whether radiation alone is enough or needs combination therapy
- baseline fitness and special considerations (nutrition, anemia, diabetes control, etc.)
Some cases also need:
- dental evaluation (head & neck cancers)
- swallowing assessment (selected cases)
- blood tests (especially if chemo is also planned)
Typical timelines (safe range)
- Finalizing reports and required staging inputs: 3 to 10 days
- If additional pathology review or missing IHC is required: 5 to 14 days (varies)
Tumour Board plan (Team decides the best sequence)
What happens
Radiotherapy is most effective when it fits into the overall plan. Tumour Board aligns:
- Radiation Oncology
- Surgical Oncology (if surgery is needed)
- Medical Oncology (if chemo is needed)
- Radiology/Pathology inputs as relevant
Key decisions made here
- Is radiation the maintreatment or post-surgery support?
- Should chemo be given with radiation?
- What is the target area and intent (curative vs symptom control)?
- What dose and number of sessions are likely (explained to patient in simple language)
Typical timelines (safe range)
- Tumour Board recommendation after reports are ready: 2 to 7 days
Radiotherapy is usually given over weeks. Monitoring ensures side effects are caught early.
Treatment start (Planning + Simulation + Daily Radiation)
Radiotherapy is unique because it needs planning before delivery. This step has sub-steps.
Step 4A: Planning CT / Simulation (the “mapping” step)
What happens
- A special planning CT is done to create a 3D map for treatment.
- Immobilization devices may be made:
- masks for head/neck
- supports for chest/abdomen/pelvis positioning
- You may be given instructions:
- bladder filling or bowel preparation (for pelvic radiation)
- breathing instructions (for selected cases)
What it feels like
- Painless. Similar to a scan.
- The key is: you must stay still in the same position each time.
Step 4B: Contouring + Plan Creation (done by the team)
What happens
- Doctors outline the cancer target and organs that must be protected.
- Physics team creates a plan to deliver accurate dose safely.
- Quality checks are done before the first treatment.
Step 4C: Radiation sessions begin (treatment delivery)
What happens
- Radiotherapy is usually given in daily sessions (often Monday–Saturday in many centres; schedules vary).
- Each session is typically short:
- setup time + positioning
- treatment delivery
- The treatment is painless. You do not feel radiation entering your body.
Typical timelines (safe ranges)
- Simulation/planning CT scheduling: 1 to 5 days after decision
- Plan creation + checks: 2 to 7 days (complexity-dependent)
- Starting the first radiation session after simulation: 3 to 10 days (Urgent cases can sometimes start sooner if clinically needed.)
Monitoring (Keeping you safe through the course)
Radiotherapy is usually given over weeks. Monitoring ensures side effects are caught early.
What monitoring includes
- Weekly (or scheduled) review by Radiation Oncologist
- Weight checks and nutrition monitoring
- Symptom tracking (pain, swallowing, bowel/urine changes, skin changes)
- Blood tests if chemo is combined or if clinically needed
- Supportive medications and topical treatments
Common side effects (depend on body area)
Radiation side effects are usually “local”—meaning related to the treated area.
Examples
- Head & neck: sore throat, mouth ulcers, dry mouth, taste changes
- Chest: cough, throat irritation, fatigue
- Abdomen/pelvis: loose motions, bladder irritation, cramps
- Breast/skin areas: skin redness/dryness
- General: fatigue (common but manageable)
Side effects often build gradually over the course and improve after completion with proper care.
When to go to Casualty immediately
Go to Casualty if any of these occur:
- Severe breathlessness or chest pain
- Heavy bleeding (vomiting blood, black stools, large bleeding)
- Persistent vomiting/diarrhea causing weakness or low urine
- Confusion/fainting/seizure
- High fever (especially if chemo is also ongoing)
Recovery & follow-up (After radiotherapy ends)
What happens after completion
- Your body continues healing after the last radiation session.
- Many side effects peak toward the end or shortly after treatment, then improve.
- Your doctor decides when to do response assessment:
- clinical exam and/or imaging, depending on cancer type
Recovery focus areas
- Nutrition and hydration (especially for head & neck / GI radiation)
- Skin care (if skin area treated)
- Managing fatigue: graded activity helps
- Managing long-term effects when relevant (dry mouth, fibrosis, bowel changes—doctor-specific guidance)
Typical timelines (safe range)
- Early follow-up after completion: 1 to 3 weeks
- Response assessment scans/tests: commonly 6 to 12 weeks after completion for many cancers (Timing varies because the body needs time to settle; scanning too early can be misleading.)
- Ongoing follow-up: initially every 1 to 3 months, then spaced out based on cancer type/risk
“Typical timeline” summary (safe ranges, no promises)
- Step 1 (Consultation): 0–3 days
- Step 2 (Diagnosis & staging inputs): 3–14 days
- Step 3 (Tumour Board plan): 2–7 days
- Step 4 (Simulation + planning + start):
- Simulation: 1–5 days
- Planning & QA: 2–7 days
- Treatment start: 3–10 days
- Step 5 (Daily sessions + monitoring): commonly 2–8 weeks (Can be shorter/longer based on intent and site.)
- Step 6 (Recovery + first assessment): 1–12 weeks depending on site and plan
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