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Revolutionary new technology to assess the risk of a serious heart condition or heart attack – many years before anything happens.
Radiotherapy
- Access to the latest radiotherapy technology and techniques
- Effective and precise treatments, delivered by specialist teams
- Comprehensive range of treatments, tailored to your needs
Radiotherapy at HCA UK
Why choose us?
At HCA UK, our experts provide the full breadth of radiotherapy treatment options, including access to the latest technology and treatment techniques to deliver precision radiotherapy.
If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, we can offer you a wide range of radiotherapy treatments and techniques, from routine approaches to the most complex, with every treatment plan carefully designed around your diagnosis.
By combining specialist clinical expertise with advanced radiotherapy technologies, we can deliver safe, precise and personalised radiotherapy tailored to you.
Radiotherapy, also known as radiation therapy, uses carefully controlled doses of high-energy radiation to treat cancer. Radiotherapy damages cancer cells so they can no longer grow and divide, eventually causing them to die. The body then gradually removes them.
Most people receive external beam radiotherapy, where radiation is delivered from outside the body using a machine such as a linear accelerator (Linac). At HCA UK, you’ll also have access to advanced technologies such as an MR-Linac, which uniquely combines both an MRI scanner with a radiotherapy linear accelerator to improve visualisation of your cancer, allowing us to adapt your treatment in real time, and a Gamma Knife, a highly specialised and precise form of radiation delivery technology used to treat certain brain conditions.
In some cases, internal radiotherapy - also known as brachytherapy - may be used, where a radioactive source is placed close to or inside the tumour. Your consultant will explain which type of radiotherapy is most appropriate for you, based on your diagnosis and individual circumstances.
Your team will recommend the type of radiotherapy that best fits your cancer type, its stage, and your overall situation.
If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, your clinical team may recommend radiotherapy as part of your personalised treatment plan.
Radiotherapy can be used:
- As a main treatment either on its own or alongside surgery, chemotherapy or other systemic anti-cancer therapies
- After surgery / and sometimes after systemic anti-cancer therapies (SACT) to reduce the risk of cancer returning (adjuvant radiotherapy)
- Before surgery / SACT to shrink a tumour and make it easier to remove (neo-adjuvant radiotherapy)
- To help control symptoms such as pain, bleeding, coughing or breathlessness
Your consultant will explain why radiotherapy has been recommended for you and how it fits into your overall care. Along with your dedicated Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), they can answer any questions you may have so you can make an informed decision about your treatment and care.
Before treatment begins, your team will carefully plan your radiotherapy using detailed imaging to ensure it is delivered as accurately as possible.
Most radiotherapy is given externally, where a machine directs radiation at the planned area while you lie comfortably on the treatment couch. During each session, you’ll be positioned carefully to make sure treatment is delivered precisely.
In some cases, internal radiotherapy may be recommended. This involves placing radiation inside the body, close to the area being treated. Your specialist team will explain this fully beforehand and talk you through what to expect.
People can experience side effects from radiotherapy, but these vary depending on which part of your body is being treated, the dose of radiation you receive, and your individual response.
Common side effects can include:
- Tiredness, which often builds up gradually during treatment
- Skin changes in the treated area, such as a change in colour, dryness or sensitivity
Some side effects are specific to the area being treated. For example:
- Radiotherapy to the chest may affect swallowing
- Radiotherapy to the abdomen may affect digestion or bowel habits
Most side effects develop gradually during treatment and improve in the weeks after it finishes. Your team will talk you through what to expect, how to manage any side effects, and any potential longer-term effects before treatment begins.
Specialist-led care, tailored to you
Access to expert clinical oncologists delivering personalised, precision radiotherapy tailored to you.
Advanced technology for precise treatment
Innovative radiotherapy techniques designed to target cancer accurately while minimising side effects to healthy tissue.
Coordinated support throughout your care
Carefully planned treatment with expert support before, during and after radiotherapy.
Treatment options
Radiotherapy treatments we offer
At HCA UK you’ll have access to a comprehensive range of radiotherapy treatment options tailored to meet your unique needs. Our state-of-the-art facilities are equipped with the latest technology, which means our specialist teams can deliver the most effective and precise treatments available.
Some of the radiotherapy treatments and techniques we offer include:
All external beam radiotherapy at HCA UK is delivered using image-guided technology, which allows treatment to be delivered with a high level of accuracy.
Tumours and nearby organs can shift slightly between treatment sessions due to natural movement within the body. Image-guided technology allows our specialists to check positioning before and during treatment and adjust if necessary. This ensures that the radiotherapy is delivered as planned while minimising exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.
External beam radiotherapy is used to treat multiple types of cancer including breast cancers, urological cancers, gastrointestinal cancers, gynaecological cancers, lung cancers, head and neck cancers, spinal cancers and metastatic tumours.
IMRT is delivered using a machine called a linear accelerator (Linac) which allows radiotherapy to be delivered precisely to the size and shape of the tumour. The intensity of the radiation beam can be adjusted across different areas, meaning higher doses can be directed where they’re needed most, while minimising the impact to healthy surrounding tissue.
This level of control makes IMRT particularly helpful when tumours are irregularly shaped or located close to sensitive organs.
IMRT is used to treat multiple types of cancer including breast cancers, urological cancers, gastrointestinal cancers, gynaecological cancers, lung cancers, head and neck cancers, spinal cancers and metastatic tumours.
VMAT is an advanced form of radiotherapy that delivers treatment from multiple angles as the linear accelerator machine rotates around the body in a continuous arc.
As the machine rotates around you, the shape and strength of the radiation beam are adjusted continuously. This allows the treatment to match the shape of the tumour more closely, helping to deliver radiation accurately while limiting exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.
This precision can be particularly helpful when tumours are close to sensitive organs. For some patients, it may also mean treatment can be delivered in fewer sessions, depending on the type of cancer being treated.
VMAT is used to treat a wide range of tumour sites, particularly where cancers are close to sensitive structures and require high-precision treatment. This includes, but is not limited to prostate, breast, head and neck, lung and pelvic cancers.
SABR (also called Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT)) is a highly precise form of radiotherapy used to treat small, well-defined tumours.
It delivers very high doses of radiation with extreme accuracy over a smaller number of treatment sessions compared to other radiotherapy techniques.
Detailed imaging and careful planning allow higher doses of radiotherapy to be delivered safely, targeting the tumour accurately while reducing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.
SABR is most used to treat small tumours in the lungs, liver, spine, prostate and lymph nodes.
SRS is an extremely precise, high-dose form of radiotherapy used to treat small tumours and abnormalities in the brain. Despite the name, it does not involve surgery.
Treatment is delivered in one or a small number of sessions, reducing the need for repeated hospital visits. Accuracy is critical, and advanced imaging is used to ensure radiation is delivered exactly to the intended area.
SRS is most used to treat brain tumours, brain metastases, acoustic neuromas and some vascular conditions.
SGRT uses advanced camera technology to create a 3D map of the body’s surface, allowing real-time monitoring of its position and movement during treatment.
This is particularly helpful for treating tumours in areas affected by natural movement, such as breathing. Continuous monitoring allows treatment to be paused or adjusted if movement is detected, helping ensure radiation is delivered accurately while reducing exposure to healthy tissue and reducing the risk of side effects.
Molecular radiotherapy uses radioactive substances attached to targeting molecules, such as antibodies, peptides or small molecules. Once administered, these molecules travel through the body seeking out and attaching to specific receptors or antigens on cancer cells, delivering radiation directly to the tumour from within the body.
Treatment may be given as an injection, infusion or tablet, depending on the cancer being treated. Because radiation is delivered directly to cancer cells, there is often less impact on healthy tissue.
Molecular radiotherapy is most used to treat thyroid cancer (using radioactive iodine), neuroendocrine tumours and some prostate cancers, including PSMA-targeted treatment and radium-223 for prostate cancer that has spread to the bones. It may also be used for certain other advanced cancers in selected cases.
SIRT is a type of internal radiotherapy used to treat cancers affecting the liver.
During treatment, tiny radioactive beads (microspheres) are delivered directly into the blood vessels supplying the tumour. These beads release radiation over a short distance, helping to destroy cancer cells while limiting damage to surrounding healthy liver tissue.
SIRT is most used to treat primary liver cancer and secondary (metastatic) liver tumours.
SIRT is usually delivered by an interventional radiology team and is also called radioembolisation.
Brachytherapy delivers radiation from inside the body by placing a radioactive source directly into, or close to, the tumour.
This allows a concentrated dose of radiation to be delivered to the cancer while reducing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. Depending on the diagnosis, brachytherapy may be used on its own or alongside external beam radiotherapy.
Brachytherapy is most used to treat prostate, cervical, uterine, vaginal and some skin cancers.
Superficial radiotherapy is a type of radiotherapy used to treat cancers and other conditions affecting the surface of the skin.
Treatment is delivered using low-energy X-rays that target the top layers of the skin, allowing radiation to be concentrated on the affected area while limiting exposure to deeper, healthy tissue. This helps achieve effective treatment with minimal impact on surrounding structures.
Superficial radiotherapy is most used to treat skin cancers and selected non-cancerous skin conditions.
Radiotherapy technology
Radiotherapy is an ever-advancing area of cancer treatment, with new technologies and techniques continually improving accuracy and outcomes. At HCA UK, we invest in advanced radiotherapy technology, including high specification linacs from Varian and Elekta, Gamma Knife and an MR-Linac.
Combined with the latest treatment techniques, this technology allows our specialists to target tumours with exceptional precision. Greater accuracy can make treatment more effective, reduce exposure to healthy tissue and help minimise side effects and, in some cases, can also reduce the number of treatment sessions needed, meaning less hospital appointments
Standard linear accelerators (Linacs) are the most used machines for delivering external beam radiotherapy. They produce high-energy X-rays that are carefully shaped and directed to treat cancer while sparing nearby healthy tissue.
Modern Linacs at HCA UK are equipped with image-guided technology, allowing precise positioning and image verification before each treatment session. This ensures radiotherapy is delivered accurately and consistently throughout the course of treatment.
Linac-based radiotherapy is used to treat a wide range of cancers, including breast, prostate, lung, bowel, gynaecological and head and neck cancers.
MR-Linac combines magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a linear accelerator, allowing clinicians to see the tumour and surrounding organs in real time during treatment. This detailed imaging helps account for natural movement, such as breathing and change in anatomy, so radiotherapy can be adapted and delivered with exceptional precision at each session.
Because treatment is guided by real-time MRI, MR-Linac can help reduce exposure to surrounding healthy tissue and, in many cases, allow higher doses to be delivered safely to the tumour.
MR-Linac radiotherapy is most used to treat prostate cancer, cancers of the pelvis and abdomen, and tumours in areas where organs can move, change position or be more difficult to see, such as the pancreas and liver.
Gamma Knife is a highly specialised form of stereotactic radiosurgery used to treat small, well-defined tumours and abnormalities in the brain. Despite its name, Gamma Knife is not a surgical procedure. Instead, it delivers multiple focused beams of radiation with extreme precision, without any incisions.
By converging radiation beams on a single target point, Gamma Knife delivers a high dose to the tumour while minimising radiation to surrounding brain tissue. Treatment is usually completed in a single session or a small number of sessions.
Gamma Knife is most used to treat brain tumours, brain metastases, acoustic neuromas, meningiomas and certain neurological conditions.
Reducing side effects
Radiotherapy allows treatment to be delivered with a high level of precision. However, when tumours are close to vital organs such as the heart or lungs, there is still a risk that surrounding healthy tissue may be affected, which can lead to side effects.
To help minimise this risk, our specialists use a range of advanced techniques to target the tumour accurately while protecting nearby healthy tissue. This careful approach allows treatment to be delivered effectively, while reducing the likelihood of treatment-related side effects wherever possible.
Because the prostate and rectum sit very close together, the rectum can receive a higher dose of radiation during radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer. This can lead to side effects such as bowel irritation, incontinence and discomfort.
A hydrogel spacer can sometimes be placed between the prostate and rectum before radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer. The spacer acts as a cushion, creating space between the two and helping to protect the rectum from radiation during treatment.
Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) is an effective technique used during radiotherapy to help minimise radiation exposure to healthy tissue and vital organs, particularly the heart and lungs, while still accurately targeting the tumour.
Before treatment begins, CT imaging is used to precisely map the treatment area and nearby organs at risk, such as the heart and lungs. This information is used to carefully plan your radiotherapy.
During treatment, you’ll be asked to take a deep breath and hold it for a short time. This moves the chest wall and internal organs away from the treatment area, allowing radiation to be delivered more precisely to the tumour while reducing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.
You remain in control of your breathing throughout treatment. If you’re unable to hold your breath at any point, treatment can be paused and resumed once you’re ready.
What to expect
From your first appointment and throughout your treatment we want you to feel informed, supported and reassured.
Knowing what to expect can help you feel more at ease. While every treatment plan is individual, most radiotherapy care follows a similar process. If you have questions at any point, your team will be happy to help.
01
Specialist review and consultation
If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, your consultant will review your diagnosis and discuss your treatment options with a multidisciplinary team of specialists. Working together, they’ll put together a treatment plan tailored specifically to you.
Your consultant will talk through whether radiotherapy is the right option for you, what the treatment is intended to achieve, and what to expect throughout the process. You’ll have time to ask questions, so you feel comfortable with every aspect of your care.
02
Planning your radiotherapy
Before treatment begins, you’ll attend one or more planning appointments to map out your radiotherapy in detail. This usually includes a CT scan and, in some cases, an MRI or PET scan.
The team then plan your treatment on our advanced computer systems – a process that can take from several days up to two weeks as we personalise your radiotherapy treatment plan.
03
Your treatment sessions
Most people have radiotherapy once a day, Monday to Friday. Some advanced techniques, such as SABR or SRS, involve fewer sessions over a shorter period.
During each session, you’ll lie on the treatment couch while the machine delivers radiation from different angles. Radiographers will leave the room during treatment, but they’ll be able to see and hear you throughout.
Treatment itself is painless and usually lasts only a few minutes, although appointments will take longer to allow for positioning, verification imaging and checks.
04
Innovative treatment options
Your radiotherapy may be delivered using a highly specialised linear accelerator, Gamma knife or an MR-Linac. Each machine offers a slightly different experience, but your team will explain exactly what to expect before treatment begins.
Whichever technology is used, treatment is carefully planned and delivered to target the cancer accurately while protecting healthy tissue as much as possible.
05
Follow up and after care
After treatment finishes, you’ll have follow-up appointments to monitor your recovery and manage any side effects. It’s common to feel tired for a few weeks, and some effects take time to settle.
Your radiotherapy team and clinical nurse specialist will be available to offer advice and answer questions. Where needed, further scans or tests will be arranged to assess how well treatment has worked.
During your radiotherapy treatment, if you experience any side effects that you are concerned about, you’ll also have access to a 24/7 triage line staffed by experienced cancer nurses.
Where can I have my radiotherapy treatment?
You can have radiotherapy procedures at several of our locations in London, Birmingham and Manchester.
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
London Gamma Knife Centre
The Wellington Hospital Outpatients 15 - 17 Lodge Road, St John's Wood NW8 7JA London
Accessing private healthcare
Health insurance
If your treatment is covered by insurance, your insurer will usually ask for a referral letter from a GP or consultant, and they’ll provide you with an authorisation code. You’ll need this code to book an appointment with us.
All our consultants are recognised by major medical insurers, and you can choose to be seen at an HCA UK hospital. Once you have your code, just give us a call and we’ll take care of the rest. Or if you prefer, you can book an appointment online.
Radiotherapy FAQs
Radiotherapy works by using carefully controlled doses of high-energy radiation to damage the DNA inside cancer cells. This stops the cells from growing and dividing and allows your body to gradually break them down and remove them.
Your clinical team will plan your treatment carefully to target cancer cells as precisely as possible, while limiting exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.
Radiotherapy can be used for different purposes, depending on your diagnosis. In some cases, it’s given with the intention of curing cancer. In others, it may be used to reduce the risk of cancer returning after surgery, to shrink a tumour before surgery, or to help control symptoms and improve quality of life.
Your consultant will talk to you about your treatment, explain the aims, and how radiotherapy fits into your overall care plan.
During each session, you’ll lie on a treatment couch while the radiotherapy machine delivers radiation to the planned area. The treatment itself is painless.
Radiographers will leave the room during delivery of the treatment, but they’ll always be able to see and hear you. The treatment usually only lasts only a few minutes, although appointments may take longer to allow for positioning, verification imaging and checks.
The length of treatment varies depending on the type of cancer and the technique being used. Some people will have radiotherapy once a day over several weeks, while others may have fewer sessions over a shorter period using advanced techniques such as SABR or stereotactic radiotherapy. Your consultant will explain your individual schedule in advance, so you know exactly what to expect.
Before treatment starts, you’ll attend a planning appointment to carefully map out your radiotherapy. This usually includes a CT scan and may also involve an MRI or PET scan.
Our expert radiographers will help position you comfortably and may use supports or moulds to help you stay still. With your permission, they may make small permanent skin marks to ensure accurate positioning for each treatment.
Many people can continue working during radiotherapy, particularly in the early stages of treatment. However, tiredness can build up over time.
It’s important to listen to your body and adjust your routine should you need to. Your team will be able to advise on balancing work, rest and recovery during treatment.
No. External beam radiotherapy does not make you radioactive. It’s safe to be around other people, including children and pregnant women, immediately after external beam radiotherapy treatment.
Some types of internal radiotherapy involve temporary radioactive sources, and your team will explain any specific precautions if this applies to you.
Radiotherapy is usually avoided during pregnancy unless it’s clinically essential. If there’s any chance you may be pregnant, it’s important to tell your care team as early as possible.
Your consultant will consider the risks carefully and discuss alternative options where appropriate. They’ll prioritise safety in every decision and recommendation.
Radiotherapy can affect fertility depending on the area being treated and the dose used. If fertility preservation is a concern for you, you should let your consultant know. They’ll be able to talk through any potential risks with you and, where appropriate, refer you for fertility preservation options.
Radiotherapy uses targeted radiation to treat cancer in a specific area of the body. Chemotherapy uses drugs that travel through the bloodstream to treat cancer cells throughout the body.
Some people have radiotherapy alone, while others have it alongside chemotherapy or surgery. Your consultant will explain which treatments are recommended for you and why.
You can find out more about chemotherapy at HCA UK here.
Your care team will guide you through everything you need to know. Typically, your preparation will include:
- Attending planning scans and appointments
- Following advice about clothing or skincare in the treatment area
- Letting your team know about any medications or health concerns
You’ll be given clear instructions before treatment starts, and you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions at every stage of your treatment.
Patient stories
Owen's story
“I was 20 years old and living my best life at university. A brain tumour? I couldn’t believe it. I was training for a marathon with my friends, so I thought my symptoms were just exhaustion. But it was the cystic fluid from my tumour affecting my hand and leg.”
John's story: Carcinoma diagnosis and treatment
Within 48 hours of his biopsy John received the news that the lump was in fact a carcinoma, a common form of cancer. John’s diagnosis was a shock to him – although he’d had a benign tumour a few years ago in his eardrum, he was otherwise fit and healthy.
Peter's story
Peter shares his experience of being diagnosed with male breast cancer, and encourages all men to check their breasts regularly.
My experience: Kevin
Kevin was treated for prostate cancer at The Christie Private Care and is part of The Wellbeing Space community. We spoke to Kevin about his experience of The Wellbeing Space and the support it provided.
Kat's story
After receiving an unexpected cervical cancer diagnosis, 42-year-old Kat has been treated for cancer twice and overcome cardiac surgery. No stranger to endurance Kat has now broken a world record rowing across the Atlantic. Here she shares her inspiring story.
“The whole process was very rapid, which is one of the real benefits of going to HCA UK. Everything was done with urgency, for which I am very grateful.”