Radiation therapy uses carefully planned, high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells or stop them from growing. Depending on the diagnosis, it may be used as the primary treatment, before or after surgery, or to relieve symptoms in advanced cancer. At the Centre for Radiation Therapy at Sterling Hospitals, every treatment plan is personalised according to the type, size, stage and location of the tumour, as well as the patient's overall health.

Our radiation oncologists work closely with medical physicists, radiation technologists and other cancer specialists to deliver treatment precisely while protecting surrounding healthy tissues as much as possible.

Radiation Therapy Planned Around Your Condition

Radiation treatment is not the same for every cancer or every patient. The technology used, dose delivered and number of treatment sessions depend on several factors, including the type and stage of cancer, the tumour's size and location, its proximity to important organs, whether the cancer has spread, previous treatments received, the patient's overall health and the purpose of treatment.

Radiation therapy may be recommended to treat or control a localised tumour, shrink a tumour before surgery, destroy cancer cells that may remain after surgery, reduce the risk of recurrence, control cancer that cannot be removed surgically, relieve pain, pressure, bleeding or other symptoms, and improve comfort and quality of life.

The Centre provides external and internal radiation therapies supported by modern imaging and treatment-planning technologies.

External Beam Radiation Therapy

External Beam Radiation Therapy, or EBRT, delivers radiation to the tumour from a machine positioned outside the body. The treatment is carefully planned using scans and computer-based calculations. During each session, the patient lies on a treatment table while the machine moves around the body and directs radiation towards the targeted area. The treatment itself is painless — patients do not see or feel the radiation being delivered.

Different external beam technologies may be used depending on the location and complexity of the tumour.

• IMRT — Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy

IMRT uses multiple radiation beams directed towards the tumour from different angles. The strength of each beam can be adjusted to match the shape of the tumour and deliver the prescribed dose more accurately, helping deliver a higher radiation dose to the tumour, reduce radiation exposure to nearby healthy tissues, treat tumours located close to important organs and manage cancers with complex or irregular shapes. It may be used for selected head and neck, prostate, brain, gynaecological and other cancers.

• IGRT — Image-Guided Radiation Therapy

IGRT uses imaging before or during treatment to confirm the tumour's position. The body and internal organs can move slightly between sessions due to breathing, digestion, bladder filling or other natural changes. IGRT allows the treatment team to check the position of the tumour and make necessary adjustments before delivering radiation, improving treatment accuracy, accounting for changes in tumour position, protecting nearby organs and reducing the risk of radiation being delivered outside the planned area.

• VMAT — Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy

VMAT delivers radiation while the treatment machine rotates around the patient, continuously adjusting the shape, direction and intensity of the radiation beam. It may offer precise radiation delivery from multiple angles, reduced exposure to nearby healthy tissue, shorter treatment-delivery time in suitable cases and greater comfort by reducing the time spent on the treatment table. At Sterling Hospitals, this arc-based delivery is available through our RapidArc Radiotherapy technology, and may be considered for tumours requiring highly shaped or complex radiation plans.

• 3D CRT — Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy

3D CRT uses CT-based imaging to create a three-dimensional model of the tumour and nearby organs, after which radiation beams are shaped to match the tumour's outline. This allows the treatment team to identify the tumour more clearly, direct radiation from selected angles, limit radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues and plan treatment according to the tumour's size and shape. 3D CRT may be used for several types of cancer depending on the treatment requirement.

Advanced Radiation Technologies

For small, clearly defined or difficult-to-reach tumours, highly focused radiation techniques may be considered. These technologies deliver a concentrated radiation dose to a precise target while minimising exposure to the surrounding area.

• Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) — Pinpoint Radiation Therapy

SRS is a highly focused form of radiation therapy commonly used for selected tumours and abnormalities in the brain or central nervous system. Despite its name, SRS does not involve an incision — it delivers multiple precisely directed radiation beams that meet at the target. SRS may be considered for small brain tumours, cancer that has spread to the brain, selected non-cancerous brain tumours, tumours that are difficult to reach surgically, and patients for whom conventional surgery may not be suitable. Treatment may be completed in a single session or a small number of sessions, depending on the condition.

• Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) — Ultra-Precise Body Radiation

SBRT uses highly focused radiation to treat selected small tumours outside the brain and spinal cord. It may be considered for selected tumours affecting areas such as the lungs, liver, spine, prostate and other suitable body sites, and delivers a high radiation dose over fewer treatment sessions compared with conventional radiation schedules. Because organs can move with breathing and digestion, detailed imaging and careful treatment planning — including 4D respiratory motion gating — are used to maintain accuracy.

Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy is a form of internal radiation therapy in which a radiation source is placed inside or close to the tumour. Because the radiation source is positioned near the area being treated, a focused dose can be delivered while reducing exposure to tissues farther away. Brachytherapy may be used for selected cancers, including cervical cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer and other suitable localised tumours. Depending on the condition, the radiation source may be placed temporarily for a specific duration or delivered through a specialised applicator, and the treatment team will explain the procedure, anaesthesia requirements, hospital stay and any temporary safety precautions that may be necessary.

Targeted Localised Radiation Therapy

Radiation Therapy for Cervical Cancer

Radiation therapy can play an important role in treating cervical cancer. Depending on the stage and extent of the disease, treatment may include external beam radiation therapy, brachytherapy, or a carefully planned combination of both. External radiation treats the cervix and surrounding areas, while brachytherapy delivers radiation closer to the tumour. The treatment plan is customised according to the size of the tumour, lymph-node involvement and the patient's overall condition.

Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer

Radiation therapy may be considered for selected localised, locally advanced or recurrent prostate cancers. Treatment options may include IMRT, IGRT, VMAT, SBRT in suitable patients and brachytherapy in selected cases. Advanced imaging and treatment planning help deliver radiation to the prostate while limiting exposure to nearby structures such as the bladder and rectum. The appropriate technique is selected after considering the stage, risk category, prostate size, symptoms and previous treatment.

Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer

Radiation therapy is commonly recommended after breast-conserving surgery to reduce the risk of cancer returning in the treated breast. It may also be advised after mastectomy in selected patients, depending on tumour size, lymph-node involvement, surgical findings, risk of recurrence and other clinical factors. Radiation may be directed towards the whole breast, a selected part of the breast, the chest wall or nearby lymph-node areas. Modern techniques help shape the radiation dose while reducing exposure to nearby healthy tissues, including the heart and lungs, as much as possible.

Palliative Radiation Therapy and Pain Relief

Radiation therapy is not used only with the intention of curing cancer. It can also help relieve symptoms when cancer is advanced or has spread to other parts of the body. Palliative radiation focuses on improving comfort and quality of life, and may help manage pain, bleeding, pressure caused by a tumour, difficulty swallowing, breathing problems, symptoms caused by cancer spreading to the brain, spinal-cord pressure and other distressing local symptoms.

Palliative radiation is usually directed towards the specific area causing symptoms, and treatment may be given in one session or over a short course, depending on the patient's needs. Cancer that has spread to the bones or nearby tissues can sometimes cause significant pain, and radiation therapy may help reduce pain by shrinking the tumour or reducing its effect on the affected bone, nerves or surrounding tissues — including pain caused by cancer involving the spine, pelvis, ribs, arms or legs and other bones or localised areas. Pain relief may develop gradually after treatment, and the radiation oncology and pain-management teams may also recommend medicines or supportive care according to the patient's condition.

What to Expect During Radiation Therapy

• Before Treatment — your treatment begins with a planning session that may include a consultation, imaging scans and a customised treatment position. Masks, moulds or supports may be used to help you remain still while the team plans the dose and treatment area.
• During Treatment — you will lie in the planned position while the team confirms the target using imaging. The machine moves around you without touching you, and the radiation delivery itself is painless.
• After Treatment — most patients can return home after each external radiation session. Side effects, if any, usually develop gradually and can be discussed with the care team. Patients receiving brachytherapy will be given specific instructions and precautions.

Managing Side Effects

Side effects depend on the area being treated, radiation dose and duration of treatment, and may include tiredness, skin redness, dryness or irritation, hair loss limited to the treated area, mouth or throat discomfort, difficulty swallowing, changes in appetite, nausea, diarrhoea, urinary or bladder changes, swelling, and cough or breathing discomfort.

Not every patient experiences the same side effects. Many effects develop gradually and improve after treatment ends. Patients should inform the radiation team about new or worsening symptoms so that medicines, nutritional support or other measures can be provided.

Supported by State-of-the-Art PET-CT

PET-CT combines functional and anatomical imaging to provide detailed information about cancer activity within the body. When medically advised, PET-CT may support radiation care by helping doctors identify active cancer, determine the extent of disease, assess whether cancer has spread, define the treatment area more accurately, support complex radiation planning, evaluate response to treatment and investigate suspected recurrence. PET-CT findings are interpreted along with clinical examination, pathology and other imaging reports to develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Multidisciplinary Treatment Planning

Radiation therapy may form one part of a broader cancer-care plan. Depending on the condition, treatment planning may involve radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, medical physicists, radiation technologists, radiologists and nuclear medicine specialists, pathologists, pain-management specialists, dietitians, and rehabilitation and supportive-care teams. Working together allows the team to decide whether radiation should be used alone, before or after another treatment, or as part of symptom-relieving care.

Why Choose Sterling Hospitals?

• Experienced radiation oncology teams.
• Personalised radiation-treatment planning.
• External Beam Radiation Therapy, including IMRT, IGRT, VMAT and 3D CRT.
• SRS and SBRT for suitable patients.
• Brachytherapy for selected cancers.
• Targeted radiation for breast, cervical and prostate cancers.
• Palliative radiation and pain-relief treatment.
• State-of-the-art PET-CT support.
• Multidisciplinary Tumour Board guidance.
• Symptom management and supportive care.
• Regular monitoring throughout treatment.

Guidance Through the Tumour Board Helpline

Understanding whether radiation therapy, surgery, cancer medicines or a combination of treatments is appropriate can be difficult for patients and families. Through Sterling Hospitals' Tumour Board Helpline, medical reports can be reviewed collectively by specialists from radiation, medical and surgical oncology, supported by experts in diagnostics and other relevant disciplines. Based on the review, the team can help guide patients towards the most suitable treatment pathway and the next procedure or consultation required for their condition.

Send "Hello" on WhatsApp to 6357 105 105 to begin your Tumour Board review.

Radiation therapy can involve multiple sessions, detailed planning and regular monitoring. At Sterling Hospitals, our teams remain closely involved throughout the process, helping patients understand each step, manage side effects and continue treatment with greater confidence.

Call 98 98 98 78 78 to book an appointment with our oncology experts.

Frequently Asked Questions