Posted on May 29, 2025 in Radiation Therapy
Written by Dr. Thakkar
Nearly half of all cancer patients receive radiation therapy as part of their treatment plan. If you or a loved one has been recommended for radiation therapy, understanding the different types available can help you feel more prepared and confident about your treatment.
At SERO, our radiation oncologists specialize in all types of radiation therapy and have received extensive training on the latest technologies and techniques.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to treat cancer by targeting the DNA inside cancer cells. When radiation damages the DNA of cancerous cells, it prevents them from dividing and growing, ultimately causing the cancer cells to die. Your body then naturally eliminates these damaged cells.
While radiation can also affect normal, healthy cells, modern radiation therapy techniques are designed to precisely target tumor areas while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. Treatment is typically divided into multiple sessions over several weeks, giving normal cells time to repair themselves between treatments.
Radiation therapy may be used to cure certain localized cancers, prevent tumors from returning after surgery, work alongside chemotherapy, or provide symptom relief in advanced cases.
External Beam Radiation Therapy is the most common type of radiation treatment. During EBRT, a machine delivers radiation beams from outside your body directly to the tumor site. The experience is similar to getting an X-ray – it’s completely painless and non-invasive.
Before treatment begins, your radiation team uses advanced imaging to map the exact location of your tumor. The area to be treated is carefully marked, and you’ll be positioned precisely the same way for each treatment session to ensure accuracy.
The radiation machine, called a linear accelerator, rotates around you to deliver beams from multiple angles. This approach focuses the maximum dose on the tumor while minimizing exposure to healthy tissue.
Treatment sessions typically take 15-30 minutes, with most time spent on positioning. The actual radiation delivery usually lasts only a few minutes and requires no anesthesia.
Stereotactic Radiotherapy is a specialized form of external beam radiation therapy that delivers extremely precise, high-dose radiation to small tumors. This technique is particularly effective for treating tumors in the brain, spine, lung, liver, kidney, and bone.
SRS uses sophisticated imaging and robotics to track tumors with millimeter accuracy, even accounting for normal body movements like breathing. This extreme precision allows doctors to deliver higher doses of radiation while better protecting surrounding healthy tissues compared to conventional radiation therapy.
SERO was one of the earliest adopters of stereotactic radiotherapy technology and offers this specialized treatment at several centers including Carolinas Medical Center, Presbyterian Hospital, Caromont Regional Medical Center, Rock Hill Radiation Therapy Center, and Frye Regional Medical Center.
SRS is typically recommended for small brain tumors, spinal tumors, early-stage lung cancers, and other small, well-defined tumors. Treatment may be completed in just one to five sessions, depending on the tumor size and location.
Brachytherapy, also called internal radiation or seed implants, works from inside your body by placing small radioactive sources directly in or very close to the tumor. This approach allows doctors to deliver high doses of radiation precisely where needed while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.
Depending on your specific condition, the radioactive sources may be temporary (removed after treatment) or permanent (left in place where they gradually lose radioactivity over months).
Brachytherapy procedures may require local or general anesthesia and brief hospitalization. Your medical team will provide detailed instructions about any necessary precautions to protect family members.
Side effects vary depending on the treatment area and type of radiation therapy:
Your radiation oncology team will discuss potential side effects specific to your treatment and provide strategies for managing them effectively.
Your radiation oncologist will recommend the most appropriate type of radiation therapy based on several factors including your cancer type, size and location of tumors, overall health, and treatment goals. Many patients receive more than one type of radiation therapy or radiation combined with other treatments like surgery or chemotherapy.
At SERO, you’ll work with a dedicated team throughout your treatment including radiation oncologists, medical physicists, radiation therapists, and oncology nurses. We utilize the latest technologies including Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), and advanced GammaKnife and TrueBeam systems.
Understanding the different types of radiation therapy can help you feel more prepared for treatment discussions with your oncology team. At SERO, we’re committed to providing you with the most advanced radiation therapy options while supporting you with compassionate, personalized care throughout your treatment journey.
