Skin cancer
Radiation therapy for skin cancer
Radiation therapy for skin cancer uses targeted beams to destroy cancer cells. Learn about possible treatment types and their potential side effects.
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Radiation therapy (or radiotherapy) uses radiation to kill or damage cancer cells so they can’t grow, multiply or spread. It’s used as the main treatment for BCCs or SCCs that can’t be removed surgically, for large areas, or for people not fit enough for surgery.
You may have radiation therapy after surgery to reduce the risk of cancer returning. It should be started within 6 weeks after surgery.
Radiation therapy to treat skin cancer is given from outside the body (externally). It may use low-energy x-rays from a superficial x-ray machine or high-energy x-rays from a machine called a linear accelerator or LINAC. Different techniques and types of radiation may be used. You will have a separate planning session so the radiation therapy team can work out the best position for your body during treatment.
Treatment will usually start a couple of weeks after a planning session. During each treatment session, you will lie on a table under the radiation machine. Once you are in the correct position, the machine will rotate around you to deliver radiation to the area with the cancer. The process can take 10–20 minutes, but the treatment itself takes only a few minutes.
The number of treatments varies and may take 2–7 weeks to complete. Your treatment team will consider things such as the type and position of the skin cancer and your preferences and circumstances to tailor the best treatment course. Some people have 5 sessions a week for several weeks, while others may have a much shorter course of treatment.
Skin in the treatment area may become red, dry or moist, and sore 7–10 days after treatment starts, depending on how long you have treatment. This soreness may get worse after treatment has finished but it usually improves within 6 weeks. The treatment team will suggest creams or coverings to make you more comfortable.
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This edition has been developed by Cancer Council NSW on behalf of all other state and territory Cancer Councils as part of a National Cancer Information Subcommittee initiative.
All updated content has been clinically reviewed by Prof Victoria Mar, Director, Victorian Melanoma Service, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, VIC and Prof Anne Cust, Acting Director, The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW, and faculty member, Melanoma Institute Australia.
This edition is based on the previous edition, which was reviewed by the following panel: Prof Victoria Mar (see above); Tracey Bilson, Consumer; Raelene Buchan, Consumer; Alison Button-Sloan, Consumer; Dr Margaret Chua, Radiation Oncologist, and the Skin Radiation Oncology team, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Prof Anne Cust, (see above); A/Prof Paul Fishburn, Skin Cancer Doctor, Norwest Skin Cancer Centre, NSW and Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland; Danielle Goss, Melanoma Clinical Nurse Specialist, Amie St Clair Melanoma (part of Melanoma Institute Australia), Wagga Wagga, NSW; Louise Pellerade, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Dr Shireen Sidhu, Head of Dermatology, The Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA; Dr Amelia Smit, Research Fellow – Melanoma and Skin Cancer, The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW; Dr Tony Tonks, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Canberra Plastic Surgery, ACT.
We also thank the health professionals, consumers and editorial teams who have worked on previous editions of this title.
Thanks also to Sydney Melanoma Diagnostic Centre for providing the dysplastic naevus photograph on page 11, A/Prof Paul Fishburn for providing the sunspot photograph on page 10, A/Prof Andrew Miller for providing the age spot photograph on page 10, and Prof H Peter Soyer for providing the other photographs on pages 9–11.
Skin cancer
Cancer Council 13 11 20
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