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Radiotherapy uses radiation to kill cancer cells. It is given using a machine called a linear accelerator that carefully targets high-energy rays at the cancer cells. It is most often used for rectal cancers.
Your treatment will be carefully planned with you. You may need several visits to prepare for treatment. This will include the use of a special x-ray machine with the same shape and movement as the treatment machine.
To outline the treatment area, the radiographer may need to make one or more tiny permanent marks, (each smaller than a pin-head), called tattoos. Later, the marks can be removed by laser treatment. Non-permanent marks can be made if tattoos are unacceptable, but then you cannot wash the area until treatment is complete.
The rays will be directed at the site of your tumour, and perhaps the surrounding lymph glands, while you lie on a couch beneath the radiotherapy machine.
Your treatment team will decide how much radiation you need, and whether you should have it all in one go or in several doses - called fractions - over a longer period. For many patients, treatment will take several weeks, and you may need to come along every weekday during that time.
Each treatment dose will only take a few minutes, and it is painless. You will be left alone in the room whilst it is given. You will need to lie very still. The radiotherapy machine will not touch you.
There are short-term and long-term side-effects from radiotherapy.
See our treatments section more information on radiotherapy for bowel cancer and its side-effects, or our radiotherapy section for more detailed information about going for radiotherapy.
