Radiation Oncology
Cancer and Its Treatment Methods
Cancer ranks as the second leading cause of death worldwide and in our country, following cardiovascular diseases. The incidence of cancer has been steadily increasing, and it occurs when cells in any tissue begin to divide and multiply uncontrollably. While cancer may affect a specific tissue or organ, it can also spread to surrounding areas, leading to more widespread forms of the disease.
The medical field that focuses on cancer treatment is called Oncology. In addition to surgical methods, there are two main approaches commonly used in oncology: Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy.
Chemotherapy (Medical Oncology) is a treatment method that uses chemical drugs to target and destroy cancer cells.
The other main method, Radiotherapy (Radiation Therapy), aims to destroy cancer cells using ionizing radiation beams. Radiotherapy procedures fall under the specialty of Radiation Oncology, and treatments using this technique are performed in Radiation Oncology clinics.
Radiotherapy can be administered externally (external beam radiotherapy) or internally (brachytherapy), where radioactive materials are placed inside body cavities.
External radiotherapy can be used alone to cure the patient, or it can be combined with chemotherapy before or after surgery. In this approach, not only the tumor itself but also the involved lymph nodes and nearby lymph nodes at risk of involvement are usually included within the treatment area.
Depending on whether surgery is performed, the treatment process typically consists of 25 to 35 sessions (fractions) applied five days a week, lasting approximately 5 to 7 weeks in total.
Additionally, radiotherapy can also be used for palliative purposes, to relieve symptoms and improve the patient’s comfort rather than cure the disease. Such palliative treatments are generally shorter, lasting around 1 to 2 weeks.
Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRS/SRC)
In Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRS/SRC) applications, the targeted area is treated with high precision, typically within 1 to 5 sessions. This technique allows for point-focused treatment of the lesion.
Stereotactic radiotherapy is used not only for malignant (cancerous) tumors, but also for benign (non-cancerous) tumors—especially in cases where surgical removal is not possible. Additionally, it can be applied to the post-operative area (surgical cavity) to prevent potential tumor recurrence after surgery.
This method provides high-dose radiation delivery with millimetric accuracy, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues while ensuring effective local tumor control.
Stereotactic Radiotherapy
In Stereotactic Radiotherapy applications, the latest medical technologies are utilized to achieve highly precise and effective treatment. Depending on the patient’s condition and treatment plan, advanced systems such as CyberKnife, TomoTherapy, MR-LINAC, Trilogy, TrueBeam, or Gamma Knife may be selected.
Similar to external beam radiation therapy, stereotactic radiotherapy uses ionizing radiation to target the tumor; however, it incorporates different specialized techniques to deliver radiation with millimetric accuracy.
The choice of the most appropriate technique is determined after a comprehensive assessment of various factors — including the patient’s overall health, tumor location, and degree of spread. This individualized planning ensures maximum treatment precision while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues.
