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Home › External Beam Radiation Therapy Treatments

External Beam Radiation Therapy Treatments

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Treatments & Technology

The goal of radiation therapy is to get a high enough dose of radiation into the body to kill the cancer cells while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue from damage.

Depending on the location, size, and type of tumor, you may receive one or a combination of radiation therapy techniques. One of the most effective and least invasive of these techniques is external beam radiation therapy.

During external beam radiation therapy, a beam of radiation is directed through the skin to a tumor and the immediate surrounding area. This beam delivers high-energy rays directed at the tumor in order to destroy it and any nearby cancer cells.

What is External Beam Radiation Therapy?

In addition to taking X-rays, doctors use radiation therapy to try to cure cancer.

Receiving external beam radiation is similar to having an X-ray taken. It is a painless, bloodless procedure. During external beam radiation therapy, a machine located outside of your body aims a radiation beam at your tumor.

The machine does not touch you and delivers the radiation beam through your skin. EBRT is a “local” treatment, which means it treats only a specific area of your body, not your whole body. For example, if you have prostate cancer, it will only treat your prostate. This alleviates some of the side effects of other whole-body treatments.

Cancers Treated with External Beam Radiation Therapy

Types of External Beam Radiation Therapies

There are many types of external beam radiation therapies available today. Based on the type and size of your tumor, your radiation oncologist will decide which EBRT treatment will be best for you.

Your doctor may refer to these by the machine’s name, rather than the treatment name. If you ever have questions about the treatment you are receiving, please ask someone on your SERO cancer care team to explain.

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Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT)

Tumors usually have an irregular shape. Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) uses sophisticated computers and computer-assisted tomography scans (CT or CAT scans) and/or magnetic resonance imaging scans (MR or MRI scans) to map the shape of your tumor.

These scans create detailed, three-dimensional representations of the tumor and surrounding organs. Your radiation oncologist can then shape the radiation beams exactly to the size and shape of your tumor. These beams are delivered from several different directions. Because the radiation beams are very precisely directed, nearby normal tissues receive minimal radiation exposure.

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Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)

Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a type of 3D-CRT. In addition to changing the direction of the beams, IMRT can also change the strength of each beam. This allows the treatment to direct higher doses of radiation at certain areas of the tumor. It also reduces the impact of the therapy on surrounding tissues.

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CyberKnife

CyberKnife is a machine that delivers stereotactic radiosurgery. The CyberKnife can move around during treatment in order to deliver beams from multiple angles. This allows for maximum effectiveness of treatment.

Cancer Care in the Charlotte Metro Region

If you’re interested in radiation therapy as a method for skin cancer treatment, contact the board-certified physicians at SERO today. With cancer treatment centers in Charlotte, NC and surrounding locations, we are proud to serve individuals from across the Southeast.

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    External Beam Radiation Therapy FAQs

    Will external beam radiation therapy make me radioactive?

    No, external beam radiation therapy will not make you radioactive. The radiation only affects your cells for a moment.

    How effective is external beam radiation therapy?

    While effectiveness varies from patient to patient, most studies show success rates of over 90%.

    Is external beam radiotherapy dangerous?

    No, external beam radiotherapy is not dangerous. It addresses a very specific area where your cancer is located and has little effect on surrounding cells. It is safe to be around other people when you’re receiving treatment, including pregnant women, children, and the elderly.

    Helpful Resources

    Organizations or individuals looking for better treatments for cancer or new ways to prevent or detect cancer may sponsor clinical trials:

    American Cancer Society

    Get helpful answers to your radiation therapy questions

    phone_iphone1-800-ACS-2345
    linkcancer.org

    Brain Tumor Foundation

    Information and advice on early detection of brain tumors.

    phone_iphone212-265-2401
    linkbraintumorfoundation.org

    Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

    phone_iphone1-800-955-4572
    linklls.org