Palliative Radiotherapy

What is it?

It is radiotherapy treatment given to patients with advanced stage of cancer in which our aim is to bring relief the patient or palliate the patient from the symptoms. It is usually given over a short period of time in 1-2 weeks. 

What are the advantages?

Although it does not aim to cure the tumour, the main benefit is that it can help relief the patient from their symptoms and hence lead to improvement in Quality of Life. It is short course radiotherapy usually delivered over 1- 2 weeks with higher dose per fraction.

Where can it be given?

• Bone metastases: Spread of cancer to the bone can occur in almost all solid tumours. 
• Spinal Cord Compression: It is one of the emergencies in radiation oncology
• Brain Metastases
• Superior Vena Cava Obstruction
• Bleeding from tumours
• Dysphagia in cases of cancer oesophagus
• For relief of bronchial obstruction due to tumour