Radiotherapy

What is radiotherapy?

The word ‘Radiotherapy’ comes from two words:

Radio  'radiation’           

Therapy  ‘treatment’       

Radiotherapy treats cancer by using high energy rays which destroy the abnormal cells, whilst doing as little harm as possible to normal cells.

Only some children will receive this type of treatment as its use depends upon the type of cancer they have and where it is in the body.  When treating brain tumours for example, radiotherapy is now avoided - if at all possible - for children under three to help minimise any long term side-effects.

How does radiotherapy work?

All human cells contain DNA – the instruction code which tells the cell what it is and what it is to do. Radiotherapy (or the radiation it contains) destroys this DNA within the cancer cell. This causes the cell to die and shrinks the size of the tumour.

The treatment is not painful and lasts a few minutes. The procedure is a bit like having an X-ray taken and the child has to lie very still.

The length of treatment will vary from child to child. The treatment is planned carefully and may involve a scan or X-ray to accurately pinpoint which areas is to be treated.

A mark is drawn on the child’s skin so that the treatment is given to the same spot each time.

Staying still

It is vital that the child stays still during treatment. Because of this, the doctor may give a young child a sedative or even general anaesthetic to help them relax or sleep.

A clear plastic mould will be made to immobilise the area that is to be treated.  These moulds are known as “immobilisation devices”  and are for the head and body.

These devices, also known as masks or shells have to be made for each individual child to use use during treatment. The child lies on the treatment table and the mask or shell fixes over them and onto the treatment table. This stops them moving.

A specialist nurse or play therapist can help explain the procedure and prepare a child for it. For further information visit our  day in the life of a play specialist section which explains how play therapists help children receiving radiotherapy. 

Side-effects

The short term side-effects associated with radiotherapy are usually mild.

Skin

Some children develop a skin reaction to the radiotherapy after a few weeks. The area of skin that is exposed to the radiotherapy can become sore, red and itchy. The radiotherapist will be looking for signs of this reaction (which can look like sunburn).

Radiotherapy can sometimes cause some long-term side effects. These do not happen to every child and vary in how severe they are.

For further information about potential long term side-effects, parents can ask a member of their child’s care team, or visit our beyond treatment section.