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External beam therapy is a method of radiation therapy in which a beam of high-energy x-rays is generated outside the patient and delivered to a patient’s tumor. Typically, this is done by using a linear accelerator to generate the beam, whose x-rays are able to travel deep within the body, irradiating and destroying cancer cells. With careful treatment planning, normal tissues surrounding the tumor can be spared.
When is external beam therapy used?
EBT is used to treat a number of different types of cancers, including (among others) those found in the:
What can I expect during a treatment session?
Prior to a treatment session, your doctor may plan a simulation or planning session. The goal of the session is mainly to establish the exact position in which you will lie for each of your treatment sessions. X-ray or CT images will be taken during this session. Your doctor might place temporary or permanent markers on or just below the skin. These will allow for your precise placement at each of your treatment sessions.
Next, your treatment team will plan treatment by calculating the volume of the tumor and the radiation dose necessary to eradicate it.
During the treatment sessions, you will lie on a treatment table in exactly the same way used for the simulation session. Immobilization devices might be used to keep your body completely still during treatment. Using the marks on your skin from the planning session, you will be aligned with a machine called a linear accelerator, which will deliver the radiation. The machine will rotate around you to deliver the radiation from the best angle at which to reach the tumor.
Treatment sessions last between 10 and 30 minutes, depending on the dose and method of treatment delivery (IMRT, for example). Typically, radiation treatments are scheduled once a day, five days a week for two to nine weeks, depending on a patient’s diagnosis.
What are the side effects?
Treatment is painless and generally well-tolerated by patients. Some side effects — including fatigue, nausea and skin irritation — may develop based on the location being treated.
Some patients, particularly those with brain tumors, may see a colored light during treatment.
Which St. Francis locations offer this treatment?
St. Francis Cancer Center—Indianapolis
8111 S. Emerson Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46237
(317) 865-5171
St. Francis Cancer Center—Mooresville
1215 Hadley Road, Suite 105
Mooresville, IN 46158
(317) 834-5900
Whom should I contact to learn more?
For more information about external beam therapy, contact the physician who is providing your care, such as your medical oncologist, pulmonologist, radiation oncologist or surgeon.
What services are available after my treatment?
Ongoing support is an important part of the healing process and can help improve your overall quality of life. View a list of available cancer support groups.
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