RADIATION ONCOLOGY
SANKO University Hospital is ushering in a new era in cancer treatment. Established under the Department of Radiation Oncology, the Radiotherapy Unit aims to offer hope to the local community with its advanced technology equipment, strong academic staff and patient-centred approach.
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View PhysiciansSANKO University Hospital is ushering in a new era in cancer treatment. Established under the Department of Radiation Oncology, the Radiotherapy Unit aims to offer hope to the local community with its advanced technology equipment, strong academic staff and patient-centred approach.
With the establishment of this unit, cancer treatment using modern radiotherapy techniques will now be conducted in a much more precise, safe and personalised manner. The aim is to extend the life expectancy of each targeted patient and improve their quality of life.
What is Radiotherapy?
Radiotherapy, also known as radiation therapy, is a treatment method that uses high-energy rays to effectively treat cancer by targeting and destroying cancerous cells.
Today, more than half of cancer patients receive radiotherapy during their treatment.
Radiotherapy can be administered alone, but it is mostly used in combination with or sequentially with other treatments such as surgery or chemotherapy.
What is Radiotherapy Used For?
- To completely destroy the tumour (curative purpose)
- To eliminate any remaining cancer cells after surgery (adjuvant treatment)
- To slow down or stop the spread of cancer
- To reduce symptoms and improve quality of life (palliative purpose).
How is Radiotherapy Administered?
External radiotherapy, the most common method, is administered by directing radiation at the tumour through the skin using specialised equipment. During the procedure, the patient lies still under the machine, and the process is painless. Some patients may feel warmth or tingling in the treatment area; this is not uncomfortable.
Treatment Planning and Process
Simulation and Planning:
- Prior to treatment, planning called simulation is performed.
- The most suitable position for the patient is determined using computed tomography (CT) imaging methods.
- Special moulds may be required to ensure the patient remains in the same position throughout treatment.
- The treatment plan is prepared by the radiation oncologist.
- Medical physicists plan the dose, duration, and areas to be treated.
- The treatment process is closely monitored by the entire team.
Each patient's treatment plan is personalised.
Treatment Sessions
- Patients can usually attend treatment on an outpatient basis.
- Most patients receive treatment every weekday (Monday–Friday).
- Treatment is not administered at weekends, allowing normal tissues to recover.
- Radiotherapy is administered by radiotherapy technicians.
- Technicians are not present in the treatment room during treatment; patients are continuously monitored via a camera system. If any problem arises, treatment is immediately stopped and assistance provided when the patient calls out.
- The entire treatment process is monitored daily by the radiation oncologist and medical physicist.
- Techniques and Technologies Used in Radiotherapy.
Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT)
IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy) is a modern radiotherapy technique and is the abbreviation for ‘Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy’. It is applied using advanced computer software for three-dimensional treatment planning. The treatment heads optimise the dose distribution according to the shape of the tumour by emitting radiation from different angles.
Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT)
VMAT (Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy) is an advanced radiotherapy technique and is an abbreviation for the term ‘Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy’. It is fundamentally based on IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy) principles; however, it differs in that the beams are continuously applied around the tumour as the device head rotates (in an arc shape), rather than from fixed angles. The beams are directed with millimetre precision and from multiple angles, concentrating solely on the tumour. Among the most significant advantages of VMAT are the delivery of the dose to the targeted tumour area in a much more precise and homogeneous manner and the more effective protection of healthy tissues. Thanks to these features, VMAT increases the effectiveness of treatment while also significantly improving patient comfort.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS)
SRS (Stereotactic Radiosurgery) is a precise radiotherapy method used particularly in the treatment of brain tumours, vascular anomalies, or certain functional brain diseases, involving the application of a high dose of radiation in a single session. Although it bears the term ‘surgical’ in its name, this method does not require any incision or surgery. SRS is based on the principle of identifying the target lesion with millimetre accuracy using three-dimensional imaging techniques and delivering a high dose of radiation only to the diseased area without damaging the surrounding healthy tissue. This provides a safe and effective alternative, particularly for the treatment of lesions located in areas that are unsuitable or risky for surgery.
Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT)
SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy) is a modern radiotherapy technique used to treat small, limited-number tumours within the body. It enables the precise delivery of high-dose radiation to the target area in a minimal number of sessions (typically 1-5 sessions). SBRT uses special imaging techniques, precise targeting systems, and immobilisation devices to determine the exact location of the tumour and provides effective treatment without damaging surrounding healthy tissue. It is widely used in the treatment of early-stage tumours in organs such as the lungs, liver, spine, and prostate, and is also an important alternative for patients who are not suitable for surgery. SBRT shortens the treatment duration while offering high local control rates and minimal side effects.
Advantages Against Moving Tumours with 4-Dimensional Computed Tomography (4DCT) and Radiotherapy (4DRT)
It can image moving tumours, particularly in the lung and abdominal regions, synchronised with respiration. Four-dimensional CT technology records the entire movement of the tumour, taking into account the patient's breathing cycle. This means more precise targeting and safer treatment. With the 4DRT method, tumours that move with breathing can be irradiated while the patient is breathing in or out.
Respiratory-Gated Radiotherapy and Real-Time Position Management (RPM)
The Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) method non-invasively stabilises organs that move with respiration, enabling clearer irradiation of the target area during radiotherapy and reducing the radiation dose received by healthy tissues. This allows sensitive organs, such as the heart, to be moved away from the radiation field, thereby increasing treatment accuracy while reducing the risk of side effects. DIBH also enables the safe increase of dose in advanced techniques such as stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) by limiting anatomical motion during treatment planning and delivery. The Varian RPM (Real-time Position Management) system, commonly used in this process, monitors the patient's respiratory cycle via an infrared camera and reflective markers, ensuring that the radiation is delivered only within the specified respiratory range. It also tracks the patient's position in three dimensions and automatically stops the radiation when it detects an irregularity in breathing, thereby enhancing safety.
Surface-Guided Radiotherapy (SGRT)
SGRT (Surface-Guided Radiotherapy) is an advanced technology that uses the patient's skin surface as a reference for positioning and tracking movement throughout treatment. It is an abbreviation for ‘Surface Guided Radiation Therapy’. Using a three-dimensional camera system, it tracks thousands of points on the patient's surface in real time, performing position verification with millimetre precision. Treatment is initiated only when the patient is in the correct position; if the patient moves, the beam is automatically stopped. Thus, SGRT provides safe treatment without exposure to extra radiation. Other significant advantages include the absence of permanent markings, shorter treatment times, and increased patient comfort. SGRT offers significant benefits in protecting vital organs such as the heart and lungs, particularly when used with DIBH (Deep Inspiratory Breath Hold) in breast cancer treatment. It also enhances treatment quality by providing high precision in brain and head-and-neck treatments.
Adaptive Radiotherapy
Adaptive radiotherapy is an approach that enables the radiation dose to be continuously replanned during treatment according to anatomical and physiological changes occurring in the patient's body. Factors such as changes in the size, shape or position of the tumour or surrounding organs, as well as weight loss, can affect treatment accuracy. Therefore, the aim of adaptive radiotherapy is to apply the most accurate dose to the tumour, reduce the exposure of normal tissues to radiation, increase treatment effectiveness, and minimise side effects.
Follow-up
Side effects are monitored during and after treatment. Supportive treatments are administered when necessary.
Radiation and Safety
Patients undergoing radiotherapy do not emit radiation to those around them. Contact with family members is completely safe.
Possible Side Effects
Radiotherapy usually causes side effects only in the area where it is administered. These effects may vary depending on the individual and the treatment area:
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Skin redness, itching, peeling
Nausea if treatment is administered to the abdominal area
Bowel and bladder problems if treatment is applied to the pelvic (lower abdomen) area
Hair loss in the treatment area.
All these possible side effects are closely monitored by the radiation oncologist and treated when necessary.
Academic Excellence, Human Approach
The Radiation Oncology team at SANKO University Hospital aims to make a difference not only through its technological capabilities but also through its academic excellence, scientific research, and ethical approach.
Phone: 0342 211 50 00
Update Date:2025-09-29 10:32:27
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