We use various state-of-the-art techniques to accurately target the tumour while sparing the surrounding normal tissues in order to maximise the treatment benefit while minimising the side effects.
The various techniques we offer are:
- 3DCRT
- IMRT
- VMAT/RapidArc
- IGRT (image guided radiotherapy)
- DIBH (deep inspiratory breath hold)
- Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SABR/SBRT)
- SRS
Cancer types treated
We offer treatment to various types of cancers such as:
- Breast
- Rectum
- Prostate
- Gynaecological
- Pancreas
- Bladder
- Anal cancer
- Lung
- Thymic tumours
- Head and neck
- Salivary gland
- Brain tumours
- Lymphoma
- Sarcoma
- Skin (melanoma, squamous cell cancer, basal cell cancer)
- Palliative radiotherapy to various sites
- Some benign conditions such as keloids, hypertrophic bone formation, thyroid eye disease
What is 3DCRT?
3D Conformal Radiation Therapy (3DCRT) is a planning and treatment technique used for treating nearly all sites of the body. This technique utilises 3D planning to avoid delivering radiation to healthy surrounding tissue while conforming the dose to the tumour/tumour bed.
The treatment time for a 3DCRT treatment is 15-30 minutes and is used in conjunction with Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) techniques to ensure the accuracy of treatment delivery (see details for IGRT below).
The Radiation Oncologist will assess the suitability for 3CRT on a case by case basis.
What is IMRT?
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) is a type of conformal radiotherapy where the radiation dose is tightly conformed to a defined treatment area and the dose can be intentionally varied within that area. Shielding that is inbuilt into the Truebeam Linear Accelerator moves constantly while the beam is on, to accurately shape the radiation dose. By tightly controlling the radiation dose, it allows for increased dose to the tumour or tumour bed while reducing the dose to surrounding healthy tissue.
The treatment time for an IMRT treatment is 15-30minutes and is used in conjunction with image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) techniques to ensure the accuracy of treatment delivery (see details for IGRT below).
The Radiation Oncologist will assess the suitability for IMRT on a case by case basis.
What is VMAT?
Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) is a conformal technique where the radiation is delivered continuously as the machine rotates around the patient. This allows for accurate shaping of the radiation beam, reducing dose to healthy tissues adjacent to the tumor/tumor bed. The VMAT technique is used to treat many different tumour sites.
The treatment time for a VMAT treatment is 15-30minutes and is used in conjunction with image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) techniques to ensure the accuracy of treatment delivery (see details for IGRT below).
The Radiation Oncologist will assess the suitability for VMAT on a case by case basis.
What is SRS?
Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a highly targeted technique for planning and delivering radiation therapy. It is used to deliver high doses of radiation per treatment, allowing for fewer treatment sessions. SRS is used for specific cases, being smaller lesions in the brain. The treatment time for an SRS treatment is 15-40minutes and is used in conjunction with image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) techniques to ensure the accuracy of treatment delivery (see details for IGRT below).
The Radiation Oncologist will assess the suitability for SRS on a case by case basis.
What is SBRT/SABR?
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy/Stereotactic Ablative Radiation are highly targeted techniques for planning and delivering radiation therapy. It is used to deliver high doses of radiation per treatment, allowing for fewer treatment sessions. SBRT/SABR techniques are used for the treatment of smaller, extracranial lesions.
In some cases, the SBRT/SABR will be delivered as a gated treatment. What this means is that the motion of tumour/tumour bed from breathing is accounted. The radiation will only be delivered in specific phases of breath. This means that the amount of radiation to the healthy tissue surrounding the tumour/tumour bed, can be reduced.
The treatment time for an SBRT/SABR treatment is 15-40minutes and is used in conjunction with advanced image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) techniques to ensure the accuracy of treatment delivery (see details for IGRT below).
The Radiation Oncologist will assess the suitability for SABR/SBRT on a case by case basis.
What is DIBH?
Deep Inspiration breath hold (DIBH) is an advanced treatment technique used for treating mainly cancers of the breast and chestwall. Patients are instructed to breathe in and hold their breath, expanding the size of their lungs. This increases the distance between the breast/chestwall and the heart therefore reducing the radiation dose to the heart. At Mediclinic Airport Road, we utilise the Varian RPM tracking device – this is a small cube that is placed on the patient’s abdomen. There are sensors on this cube that are detected by an infrared camera, which monitors the patients breathing. The treatment will only be administered when the patient is in the correct phase of breath.
The Radiation Oncologist will assess the suitability and benefits of using the DIBH technique on a case by case basis.
What is IGRT?
Image guided radiation therapy or IGRT is a technique that utilizes 2D/3D imaging techniques to guide your radiation therapy treatment. First, you will have a CT-simulation appointment where you will be scanned, in the treatment position and with the images obtained, the Radiation Oncologist can accurately outline the treatment area.
Once on treatment, you will be imaged daily with advanced imaging techniques, integrated into our state of the art Truebeam Linear Accelerator. These daily images with ensure the radiation is delivered with sub millimeter accuracy.