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  • Unit. 1908-09, 19/F, Mira Place Tower A, 132 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
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Radiation Therapy

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Radiotherapy is a treatment where radiation is used to kill cancer cells. It works by causing damage to the DNA of cancerous cells. This clinic offers state-of-the-art radiotherapy including TomoTherapy and Y-90 radioembolization to effectively treat various kinds of cancer with low side effects based on the patient’s specific needs; opening new horizons for radiotherapy.

 

The following is information on the side effects and radiotherapy application, the latest radiotherapy technology and the radiotherapy offered in this clinic.

Conventional Radiotherapy side effects

Conventional radiotherapy tends to cover a larger radiation field with less precise delivery of the radiation dose to the targeted tumour area and therefore tends to cause damage to healthy cells and tissues in the vicinity, leading to side effects. In general, common side effects of conventional radiotherapy will include:

Short-term side effects of radiation therapy

  • Reduced saliva leading to dry mouth and taste changes
  • Loss of appetite
  • Inflammation of mouth, throat or oesophagus
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Hoarseness with voice box involvement
  • Skin problems such as red, dryness, peeling and ulcers
  • Hair loss at the radiated area
  • External and middle ear inflammation

Long-term side effects of radiation therapy

  • Long-term dry mouth with increased risk of of teeth and gum infections
  • Damage to nasal mucosa that can cause nosebleeds
  • Hardening of the soft tissues in the neck that leads to stiffness
  • Skin dryness and colour changes
  • Damage to the top of the lungs with no apparent symptoms
  • Tinnitus, chronic middle ear inflammation or hearing loss
  • Stiffness in the bones of the jaw
  • Hoarseness with voice box involvement
  • Reduced thyroid activity and the production of extraneous hormones

Is Radiotherapy compulsory for cancer patients?

Radiotherapy has different uses according to the stage of the cancer treatment and can be used as the main treatment, or together with another treatment or even as a method of pain relief. The majority of cancer patients are treated with radiotherapy following their surgery to kill off any remaining cancer cells and to reduce the risk of recurrence whilst improving their survival rate. In addition, some cancer patients may require radiotherapy before surgery so as to shrink the tumour and improve the success rate of the surgery plus lower the chance of post-operative infection. After radiotherapy, patients with inoperable cancers may be able to undergo surgical resection to remove their cancer.

If you are interested, please reach out to one of our staff members for an appointment.

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Understand other cancer treatments:

References：

  1. Hong Kong anti-cancer society: radiation therapy radiation therapy side effects and care
    https://www.hkacs.org.hk/ufiles/Radiotherapy.pdf
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