External beam radiotherapy

External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) is the most commonly used form of During an EBRT procedure, a machine directs external beams of radiation into cancerous areas inside your body with extreme precision. This method helps reduce damage to healthy tissues. EBRT is designed and monitored by a radiation oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with radiation. Treatment is typically given daily, Monday through Friday, on an outpatient basis over the course of a number of weeks. However, treatment is tailored to the patient’s individual needs, so some may need to go more or less often. Cancer Treatment Centers of America ®(CTCA) is now City of Hope ®, joining forces to expand patient access to personalized, comprehensive cancer care. What is external beam radiation therapy? Using a special What should I expect during my EBRT? Every patient’s experience during EBRT varies depending on the type of cancer, the size and location of the tumor and the type of therapy being used. But there are some general rules and expectations most patients should consider. For instance: • You may be asked to change into a hospital gown for your therapy, so wear clothes that are easy to remove. If a hospital gown is not necessary, you still may be asked to expose the area being treated, so you should wear clothes that are loose-fitting and comfortable. Do not wear jewelry. • A mold of the part of the body that is being treated may be required to help keep you still during treatment...

Radiation therapy is a common part of a spine tumor treatment plan. Your treatment team may recommend either external or internal radiation — both are very effective. Some of the benefits of radiation therapy include: • eliminating metastatic spine tumors • preventing spine tumors from coming back • shrinking tumors for easier removal • relieving spinal tumor pain • treating spine tumors that don’t need surgery The following sections will give you a closer look at the different radiation therapy options available at Memorial Sloan Kettering. External Radiation Therapy External radiation therapy focuses radiation to spine tumors from a source located outside the body. Our radiation oncologists use many methods to target spine tumors and deliver the most effective dose of radiation. At Memorial Sloan Kettering, our treatment experts use four types of external radiation therapy: EBRT is the most common way to deliver radiation to spine tumors. In this procedure, your doctor focuses two low-dose radiation beams at your tumor. This treatment usually involves several sessions. EBRT may be a good option for you if you have tumors that have metastasized (spread). If your tumor resists conventional radiation, your treatment team may recommend proton therapy. This advanced procedure delivers high doses of radiation to resistant tumors while limiting exposure to nearby healthy tissues. Brachytherapy High-dose rate (HDR) The radiation oncologists at Memorial Sloan Kettering have pione...

External Beam Radiation Therapy • Care notes • • • • • • • What do I need to know about external beam radiation therapy (EBRT)? EBRT is used to kill cancer cells or stop them from spreading. EBRT is also used to decrease pain caused by metastasis. Radiation is a very strong type of x-ray. EBRT may be combined with other treatments such as medicine, chemo, or surgery. It is usually done in a hospital or clinic. You may need EBRT every day over a period of several weeks. How do I prepare for EBRT? Your healthcare provider will talk to you about how to prepare for EBRT. He or she may tell you not to eat or drink anything after midnight on the day of EBRT. Your healthcare provider may, instead, tell you to eat healthy foods. He or she will tell you what medicines to take or not take on the day of EBRT. Arrange for someone to drive you to and from your treatment sessions. What will happen during EBRT? You may be given medicine to help you stay calm and relaxed. Your healthcare provider will position your body for the procedure. Pillows or supports may be used to hold you in place. Shields may be put over you to block radiation exposure to other parts of your body. A machine will send a beam of radiation to the area of the cancer. You should not feel any pain, heat, or tingling during the procedure. Your healthcare provider will stay nearby in a room and you will be able to talk to him or her. Treatment usually lasts up to 15 minutes. What will happen after EBRT? You will be abl...

There are two main types of radiation therapy. External radiation therapy is named after the type of radiation particles that are used to give the treatment: • Photons. • Electrons. • Protons. Photon, electron, and proton therapy all damage cancer cells. Each type does have certain advantages and disadvantages. Your treatment team will work together to pick the best type of radiation therapy for your type of cancer. Photon and electron radiation are found in most radiation centers and are the most used. Protons are at only some cancer centers, with new proton therapy centers being built and others in the planning stage. Photon Treatment Photon beams are the same type of beam used in x-ray machines, like those used to take chest x-rays. However, in radiation therapy, much higher energy photon beams are used. Photons can be used in many different types of radiation therapy. Two-Dimensional Photon Therapy ("Conventional" Radiation Therapy) When 2D, or conventional radiation therapy is used, x-ray films are used to guide and position the radiation beams. A machine called a “fluoroscopic simulator” is often used to plan the radiation treatments. The bones seen on the x-rays are used as landmarks to find where the tumor is and where to position the radiation beams to treat the tumor. Planning does not take a long time and patients can often start treatment within a week. It is often used for urgent treatments. 3D Conformal Radiation Therapy Many hospitals now have the ability to...

• 1. Leonard L. Gunderson, Joel E. Tepper. "Conformal Therapy and Intensity- Modulated Radiation Therapy: Treatment Planning, Treatment Delivery, and Clinical Results", Clinical Radiation Oncology. (2011) • 2. M Teoh, C H Clark, K Wood, S Whitaker, A Nisbet. Volumetric modulated arc therapy: a review of current literature and clinical use in practice. (2014) The British Journal of Radiology. 84 (1007): 967-96. • 3. Solberg TD, Balter JM, Benedict SH, Fraass BA, Kavanagh B, Miyamoto C, Pawlicki T, Potters L, Yamada Y. Quality and safety considerations in stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiation therapy: Executive summary. (2012) Practical radiation oncology. 2 (1): 2-9. • 4. Marcelo F. Benveniste, Daniel Gomez, Brett W. Carter, Sonia L. Betancourt Cuellar, Girish S. Shroff, Ana Paula A. Benveniste, Erika G. Odisio, Edith M. Marom. Recognizing Radiation Therapy–related Complications in the Chest. (2019) RadioGraphics. 39 (2): 344-366. • 5. Leonard L. Gunderson, Joel E. Tepper. "Charged Particle Radiotherapy", Clinical Radiation Oncology. (2011) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • unsealed source radiation therapy • • • complications related to radiation therapy • • • • radiation-induced brain tumors • • • • • • • • • • lungs • • • • • • mediastinum • • • • soft tissues • • • • bony thoracic cage • • • • • complications of abdominopelvic radiation therapy • • • •