Breast cancer is the commonest cancer among South African women, followed by cervical cancer. The commonest cancer among South African men is Lung cancer. Radiation therapy involves killing cancer cells by using 'x-rays' therapy. Radiotherapy is of the modes of treatment cases involving the bladder, cervix, the skin or some parts of the head and neck, alone or in combination with chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy is effective in the treatment of a wide range of solid and haematological (blood) cancers, including breast, colon, lung cancers and lymphoma to name a few. Chemotherapy works by "killing" cancer cells at different phases of the cell cycle, which is the cycle that governs replication of cells. Biological response modifiers are substances that stimulate the body's immune system to attack cancer cells. They are produced naturally by the immune system where the cancer first develops and by the type of body tissue in which the cancer originates.

The symptoms of cancer depend on the site of the disease, but a lump, bleeding, a persistent cough and weight loss are some of the symptoms that one needs to look out for.

Oncologists are specialists who assess and treat cancer patients with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. We are a team of medical and radiation oncologists .i.e we use chemotherapy, radiotherapy and medical therapies (e.g. hormonal manipulation etc.) to treat different cancers.

 Radiation oncology is the science of treating diseases, mainly cancers, with radiation. Radiation also can be used less often to treat benign disease such as keloids.

Radiation oncology makes use of high energy x-rays, which deposit energy into cancer cells causing them to die and thereby preventing further growth and spread of the disease. The delivered radiation cannot be felt or seen and treatment sessions are therefore completely painless. Each treatment session takes about 15 to 20 minutes.

Modern radiation techniques are designed to spare normal tissue wherever possible, while delivering a high dose to the tumour (cancer) area. However, some irradiation of normal cells is unavoidable and this may produce side effects that are limited to the treatment site. Radiation-sensitive cancer cells are preferentially killed while normal cells are able to repair the damage caused, thereby producing a therapeutic benefit.

The goals of treatment with radiotherapy can be either curative or palliative. Palliative treatment is designed to improve symptoms such as pain, bleeding or obstruction of vital organs. Because of its good side-effect profile and high efficacy, radiotherapy is an excellent treatment modality to palliate the distressing symptoms that can be caused by cancers.  

Radiation oncology is sometimes delivered in combination with chemotherapy that acts as a radiation sensitiser, thereby improving the cell-kill of the radiation.

The DMO team comprises specialist radiation oncologists and radiotherapists who have had extensive experience and are respected nationally and internationally.

Brachytherapy is a form of internal beam radiotherapy Brachytherapy means treatment from a short distance. Using this technique, the radiation beam is delivered directly to the tumour, thereby reducing the amount of radiation delivered to healthy tissues to a minimum.  This treatment is typically given over one to five sessions that can take one to two hours to complete. It can also be delivered by inserting small radioactive “beads” at the tumour site, which remain there either until the cancer cells have been destroyed, or permanently.

External radiation therapy is the most commonly used treatment modality, and refers to radiation delivered from a distant source, from outside the body and focused at the patient’s cancer site. Typically the patient lies on a treatment bed and the radiation is delivered from a machine that moves around the patient, thereby targeting the cancer cells. The treatment is usually delivered over multiple sessions daily sometimes lasting up to six to seven weeks

Stereotactic radiosurgery involves sophisticated technology that delivers an extremely high dose to a small area with a minimal dose being delivered to surrounding normal tissues. At present, this technology is only available to treat cancers in the head region at our centres, but will become available for the treatment of tumours anywhere in the body in the near future. Treatment can often be delivered in a single session – in contrast to external beam radiation

Radiotherapy at DMO is administered on an out-patient basis – you do not need an overnight stay at our centres. Typically, we will prescribe a single treatment each day, which lasts for about 10 to 20 minutes.

Yes – External radiation beam therapy is the most commonly used, and refers to radiation delivered from a distant source, from outside the body and directed at the patient’s cancer site. Brachytherapy involves the insertion of small radioactive “beads” at the tumour site, which remain there either until the cancer cells have been destroyed, or permanently. This technique is increasingly being used to treat cancers of the cervix, uterus, vagina, rectum, prostate and eyes.

Stereotactic radiosurgery involves sophisticated technology that delivers an extremely high dose to a small area. At present, this technology is only used to treat cancers in the head and neck area.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is an advanced mode of high-precision radiotherapy that uses computer-controlled linear accelerators to deliver precise radiation doses to a malignant tumor or specific areas within the tumor.

There are three main treatments for cancer: surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Radiation oncology is used in three contexts: as the primary treatment (stand-alone), in addition to surgery or chemotherapy, or as a palliative modality to relieve cancer symptoms. However, the selection of treatment is generally site-dependent. For example, cervical tumour sites are normally treated with radiation therapy, while ovarian cancers generally respond better to chemotherapy. Your specialists will make this decision based on your test results, and will consult with you before proceeding. And if radiotherapy is not the best treatment option for you, we will refer you to the correct specialist

Side effects happen when healthy cells are lightly irradiated – a process that is, unfortunately, unavoidable. These can include fatigue, and skin reactions, but are site-dependent and are generally reasonably well tolerated. Most radiation oncology patients can continue to function normally during and after their treatment.

In most cases, DMO will follow a post-treatment programme. Your radiation oncologist usually likes to see you two weeks after completion of treatment and, from there; your follow-up care plan is tailored to your needs. We will continue to monitor your recovery at regular intervals. Your radiation oncologist will clearly explain to you how often you will need to come for follow ups and which investigations will be required to monitor your progress.

The effects of radiotherapy are often delayed for up to three months after completing the treatment. The prescribed treatment needs to be completed and, a few months later, x-rays or scans will be recommended to monitor the effects of the treatment. Symptoms such as pain or bleeding often improve while on treatment but you will still need to wait four to six weeks to assess the full effect.

Radiation deposits energy into cancer cells causing them to die thereby preventing further growth and spread of the disease. Cancer growths often shrink or disappear completely following treatment. Thereby, cancers can be cured using radiation therapy

A healthy balanced diet is recommended whilst on radiation treatment. Mild exercise can be beneficial in combating the fatigue experience due to radiation therapy. Make sure you attend treatment sessions on a regular basis and do not miss any treatments without consulting with your radiation oncologist. A positive mental attitude is essential.

Orthovoltage is a method of delivering radiation therapy that has been available for more than 60 years. The X-rays used in this treatment are effective in treating cancers but do not penetrate more than a few millimeters beyond the surface of the skin, making it particularly useful in the treatment of very superficial small tumors, such as skin cancers, eyelid and lip cancers and benign skin conditions including keloids.