What is the essence of radiation therapy and why is it performed?
The main task of radiation therapy (radiotherapy) is to destroy cancer cells. This is due to exposure to radiation, which destroys their DNA.
The location of the tumor and the stage of the disease affect the goal of radiation therapy. Depending on this, the following types of procedures are distinguished:
- Therapeutic. As the only method of treatment, radiation therapy is used:
- with neoplasms that are difficult to access for surgery;
- in the early stages of some types of cancer;
- in oncohematological diseases, when it is necessary to irradiate the entire body.
- Neoadjuvant is preoperative radiation. Doctors perform it to reduce the neoplasm and preserve tissues as much as possible during the operation.
- Adjuvant - postoperative therapy. Destroys metastases (secondary tumors) and cancer cells that remained after the intervention in the area of the removed neoplasm.
- Intraoperative - in some cases, replaces adjuvant radiotherapy. Doctors perform it during surgery after removing the visible part of the tumor to destroy the remaining cancer cells.
- Palliative - indicated for patients with large inoperable neoplasms in the advanced stages of cancer to relieve symptoms.
What determines the cost of radiation therapy?
Factors that affect the cost of radiotherapy:
- Tumor localization. The price will be higher if the tumor is located near large vessels or nerves and requires special accuracy and complexity of beam adjustment.
- Dose, number of irradiated zones and sessions. The more of them, the higher the price of radiotherapy.
- Selected country and clinic. The cost of radiotherapy in different countries can vary several times. For example, 1 course in Turkey costs from $3,068, and in Spain - from $9,371. This is due to the difference in pricing policies for medical services in states. Prices for radiation for cancer in different hospitals in the same country depend on the type of facility (private/public) and class
- Additional medical services. These include the cost of tickets to the selected country, transfer from / to the airport, translation services, accommodation. In some clinics, the services of a Russian-speaking coordinator, translator, transfer and accommodation are included in the cost of treatment. Check with the Bookimed coordinating doctor when choosing a medical center.
How much does a course of radiation therapy cost?
The table shows the estimated cost of a course of radiation therapy in different countries. Prices in some countries differ by several times, while the leading clinics of all these countries have the latest devices of the latest generation.
The country | The cost of radiation therapy |
Turkey | from $3 068 |
South Korea | from $3 500 |
China | from $4 450 |
India | from $6 100 |
Israel | from $8 000 |
Germany | from $8 367 |
Spain | from $9 371 |
How to arrange treatment?
The page presents the leading clinics around the world, which have the latest devices for radiation therapy. You can sort medical centers by cost, recommendations and patient reviews. Leave a request on the website so that the Bookimed coordinating doctor will contact you at a convenient time for you. He will answer your questions about treatment, tell you how much a course of radiation therapy costs in your case, guide you to the leading clinics, and sign up for the procedure.
The Bookimed care department helps with finding tickets and accommodation for the duration of your stay. You do not pay for our services.
Where can I read reviews of radiotherapy?
You can read the reviews about radiotherapy left by Bookimed patients in the clinic cards on this page. Here is one of them. He was left by a woman whose aunt was undergoing radiation therapy at the Solingen clinic in Germany.
Good afternoon everyone! The bookimed company helped a lot in solving the terrible misfortune that happened in my family - this is cancer, namely the consultant Koval Ivan, gave hope for my aunt's recovery. A few words about how bookimed advised us with the hospital: we submitted an application with a specific problem, and on the same day consultant Ivan called us back, exactly one day later we were offered three options for hospitals in Europe with a full description of doctors and the cost of treatment. A week later, we were already in Germany for an appointment with Professor Dr. Hensch, the consultation was held at a very high level. Now my aunt is being treated and I am sure that the treatment will be successful.)) I think my aunt will tell you in more detail after she has fully recovered. Personally, on behalf of myself and all of my family, I want to say a HUGE thank you to Bookimed and Ivan for the quality work.
Inna
What do Bookimed patients look for when choosing a clinic?
When choosing a medical center for radiation therapy, you need to pay attention to:
- Year of manufacture of the device. The newer the unit, the more accurate, effective and safer the radiotherapy will be. Therefore, choose a clinic that uses units no older than 2013.
- Qualified radiation oncologist. Leading experts in this field have at least 15 years of practical experience. It is important that he has regular fellowships in other countries (eg USA) and is a member of international organizations such as the American Society of Radiation Oncology ( ASTRO ) and the European Association for Radiation Therapy and Oncology ( ESTRO ).
What are the types of radiation therapy?
Depending on the method of irradiation, the following types of procedures are distinguished:
Remote (external) radiation therapy
Doctors irradiate the tumor using a special device - a linear accelerator, which is located at a distance from the patient and produces radiation beams.
The Cancer Research UK charitable organization distinguishes the following types of remote radiotherapy:
- 3D-conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) - the device creates a three-dimensional model of the neoplasm and acts on it from different angles;
- Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) - allows you to accurately calculate the doses of radiation required for each of the areas of the tumor, and adjust the beam to the shape of the tumor.
- Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) – During the procedure, the machine takes CT scans of the tumor. Thanks to this, the doctor can correct the position of the patient's body and accurately direct the radiation beam to the neoplasm.
- Hypofractional stereotactic radiotherapy (SBRT) is an exposure of a neoplasm to a high dose of radiation. The procedure is only indicated for certain forms of cancer (eg, liver, lung, spine).
- Proton beam therapy - during such treatment, the destruction of cancer cells occurs due to a beam of protons. The radiation dose is lower than with other types of radiotherapy.
Contact radiation therapy (brachytherapy)
Doctors place a source of radiation (needles, capsules, seeds) inside or near the tumor. The substance affects the neoplasm locally and does not harm the body as a whole.
Radionuclide therapy
The patient takes an oral or intravenous drug with radiation that accumulates in malignant cells. Radionuclide methods of irradiation include radioiodine therapy.
How is radiation therapy performed?
external beam radiation therapy
This is a painless procedure that does not require anesthesia. Moreover, if the patient is a child, doctors use special sedatives that calm him down and allow him to lie still during the irradiation session.
During the procedure, the patient is on a special couch. His body is given the necessary position and fixed to avoid displacement. If necessary, also fix the head with a special mesh.
Brachytherapy
It is performed under local or general anesthesia. The doctor places radioactive grains into the organ with special needles. He controls the course of the procedure using ultrasound.
Radioiodine therapy
Under the supervision of a doctor, the patient takes a capsule with an individual dose of radioiodine , which is selected according to the results of the examination. The radionuclide does not harm the patient's body, but may affect the health of others. Therefore, for 3-7 days he remains in an individual ward with a special ventilation system.
What side effects and complications can occur after irradiation?
After remote radiation therapy, the patient may experience systemic complications associated with the general condition, and local ones in the area in which the radiotherapy took place.
Local | Systemic |
burns | Weakness |
Fragility of blood vessels | Violation of hematopoiesis |
Small focal hemorrhages | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea |
Ulceration of the irradiated surface | Hair loss, brittle nails |
How long does treatment last at Bookimed partner clinics?
The mode of radiation therapy depends on its type:
- Duration of 1 session of remote radiation therapy is 10-45 minutes. The course takes, on average, 2 weeks (5 procedures each). The number of courses is individual for each patient. Doctors determine the need for hospitalization according to the general state of health. In some cases, a single irradiation of the tumor (radiosurgery) is indicated.
- Brachytherapy takes 1.5 hours, hospitalization after it - 2 days.
- After taking radioactive iodine, the patient stays in the clinic for an average of 7 days.