Planning external radiotherapy
You have small tattoos or skin markings as part of the radiotherapy planning. These help make sure that the external radiotherapy treatment is accurate.
Last reviewed: 30 Oct 2023
Next review due: 30 Oct 2026
Your radiotherapy team carefully work out how much radiation you need to treat the cancer and exactly where you need it.
You might have moulds or masks made for you before you start radiotherapy. Find out about the different types and how they're made.
External radiotherapy uses radiotherapy machines to aim radiation beams at a cancer. This destroys the cancer cells. There are different types of external radiotherapy.
You might have radiotherapy to try to cure cancer or to help relieve symptoms. You might have it with other treatments such as chemotherapy or surgery.
Find out about cancer treatment with radiotherapy, including external radiotherapy, internal radiotherapy, side effects, radiotherapy for symptoms and follow up after treatment.
Search for the cancer type you want to find out about. Each section has detailed information about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, research and coping with cancer.
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