goto homepage

Worcestershire’s radiotherapy department is based in the £23m Worcestershire Oncology Centre at Worcestershire Royal Hospital. The state-of-the-art centre opened in January 2015, offering radiotherapy treatment for Worcestershire patients in county for the first time.  Saving our patients – who previously had to travel to Cheltenham, Wolverhampton or Coventry for treatment – an estimated one million miles of travel a year.

Worcestershire Oncology Centre offers a range of radiotherapy services and is able to treat 95% of patients requiring treatment (with some very specialist treatment still being provided elsewhere).

The centre currently has three linear accelerators (the machines which deliver the treatment), but has space for five to ensure that the centre can cater for growing demand in the future.

Our radiotherapy service employs a multidisciplinary team of highly skilled clinical oncologists, medical physicists and therapeutic radiographers to ensure our patients receive the highest possible care.

What is radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy is the treatment of cancer and a few other non-malignant conditions using high energy x-rays or electrons. It may be given on its own, or it may be used alongside other treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy.

Radiotherapy may be given as a radical treatment when your consultant hopes to cure your cancer or as a palliative treatment to help shrink the cancer and control symptoms.

Radiotherapy treatment is usually delivered by machines called Linear Accelerators. However, some patients may be treated on a different machine called an Xstrhal or superficial unit (this is usually used for superficial treatments such as skin cancer). Everyone’s treatment is different and planned individually.

How does it work?

Radiotherapy causes changes in cells, both normal and cancer cells. Cancer cells are more sensitive to radiotherapy than normal cells so more of them are damaged beyond repair. The normal cells are better able to repair themselves and so their damage is mainly temporary although some can be longer term. This is the reason why radiotherapy has some side effects.

Radiotherapy is painless and you may hear a buzzing noise when the machine is switched on. For some treatments the machine may touch you.

How often is it given?

The treatment is usually given as a series of outpatient appointments, sometimes known as fractions, usually over five days a week, although it can be once a week or every other day. Radiotherapy can be anything from one treatment to a course of treatment lasting 6-7 weeks.

Common side effects of radiotherapy

Treatment is painless but can cause some side effects. You may find that the treatment makes you feel more tired and your skin may become sore in the area treated.

Other side effects depend on the area that you are having treated. You will be given an information leaflet specific to your treatment area when you sign the consent form and are seen by your consultant.

Types of radiotherapy we offer

Developments in radiotherapy now allow us to target the radiation beam with more accuracy than ever before. Greater accuracy means that fewer healthy cells are damaged, which in turn means that higher doses of radiation can be given, making treatment more effective and, usually given over a shorter period of time.

Here are some of the main types of radiotherapy we offer:

Image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT)

IGRT is the use of a variety of imaging techniques, such as X-rays or CT scans, alongside radiotherapy. Imaging allows us to confirm the position of the patient and the treatment area, targeting the radiotherapy beam more precisely. 

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) 

IMRT uses linear accelerators to deliver very precise doses of radiation which are shaped to the shape of the treatment area. It can be used to deliver different doses to the treatment area as well as reducing the amount of radiation received by other organs close to the tumour.

Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) 

This is a form of IMRT; radiation is delivered whilst the treatment machine shapes the beam whilst it moves around you.   

Voluntary Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (vDIBH)

vDIBH is used in the treatment of some patients with left-sided breast cancer. This involves the patient breathing in and holding their breath for approximately 20 seconds. This helps to reduce the amount of heart in the treatment beam. Your consultant will discuss this with you if they feel it will be of benefit.

Electron treatment

This is a form of radiotherapy that is used to treat tumours on or close to the skin surface. Part of the treatment machine will gently touch you for the duration of your treatment. The machine is placed into position daily and may vary slightly depending on the position that you are lying in.

Worcestershire Oncology Centre – on-site facilities

The Worcestershire Oncology Centre has the following facilities available:

WRVS Café

Open 8.30am to 4pm – sells hot and cold food and drinks  

Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre

Open 10am – 4pm

Shop

Open 9am to 5pm – sells drinks, snacks, newspapers and magazines

Baby changing facilities

Other facilities, including a post box and restaurant can be found within the main hospital reception.

Contact us

Worcestershire Oncology Centre 
Monday to Friday 9.00 – 17.00

Reception: 01905 761400
For queries concerning appointments, parking and ambulance transport.

Cancer and Radiotherapy Information and advice 
Macmillan Radiotherapy Specialist Radiographer: 01905 761420
Monday – Friday 8.15 – 16.30.