Radiation Oncologist

Conditions Treated

• •Head and Neck Cancers (Radiation) — Radiation is a primary or adjuvant treatment for oral cavity, oropharynx, nasopharynx, and laryngeal cancers.
• •Cervical Cancer — Third most common cancer in Indian women. Concurrent chemoradiation is the standard treatment for locally advanced disease.
• •Brain Tumours and Metastases — Radiation — including stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) — treats primary brain tumours and cancer that has spread to the brain.
• •Prostate Cancer — Radiation therapy is an effective alternative to surgery for localised prostate cancer, with equivalent cure rates.
• •Palliative Radiation — Radiation used to relieve symptoms in advanced cancer — pain from bone metastases, bleeding, airway obstruction.

Health Tips

• •Don't wash off skin markings during radiation treatment
• •Moisturize irradiated skin with recommended cream
• •Maintain good nutrition during treatment
• •Report side effects to your team promptly

How to Prepare for Your Visit

• •Attend the simulation appointment — a planning CT scan creates your personalised treatment plan
• •Inform about any metallic implants, pacemakers, or prosthetics
• •Arrange daily transportation — treatment is typically Monday to Friday for several weeks
• •Consult a dietitian — good nutrition during radiation improves tolerance and outcomes
• •Arrive on time for sessions — each treatment takes only 15-20 minutes but requires precise scheduling
• •Do not wash off skin markings unless told to — they ensure accurate radiation targeting
• •Report side effects weekly to the radiation team — most can be managed with medication
• •Moisturise treated skin with recommended cream only — avoid perfumed products on the treatment area
• •Side effects may continue for 1-2 weeks after treatment ends before improving
• •Attend all follow-up appointments — monitoring for treatment response and late effects is important
• •Maintain good nutrition and hydration during recovery
• •Report any new symptoms to your radiation oncologist — late radiation effects can occur months to years later

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• •Is radiation curative or palliative in my case?
• •How many sessions will I need and how long is each session?
• •What side effects should I expect and how are they managed?
• •Will radiation affect my fertility?
• •What is the difference between IMRT, IGRT, and stereotactic radiation?
• •Can I continue working during radiation treatment?

When to See a Specialist

A Radiation Oncologist uses targeted radiation to destroy cancer cells, either as primary treatment or alongside surgery and chemotherapy.

• •Cancer diagnosis requiring radiation therapy
• •Post-surgery radiation to prevent recurrence
• •Palliative radiation for pain relief in advanced cancer
• •Brain tumour or metastases needing radiation

Modern radiation techniques (IMRT, IGRT, CyberKnife) are precise and cause fewer side effects than older methods.