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Stereotactic body radiation therapy or SBRT is a useful treatment for small, isolated tumors located outside the brain and spinal cord.
It is sometimes used when surgery is not an option due to age, health problems, or the tumor location.
How it works
It uses special equipment to hold the body during treatment. It delivers a precise beam to the limited area.
Treatment schedule
Stereotactic radiation is given once a day in more than one dose, up to five doses.
Side effects
Standard radiation therapy treatments may cause side effects depending on the treatment period and the body part being treated. For example:
- Skin changes
- Fatigue (Tiredness)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Hair Loss
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty swallowing
- Tenderness and inflammation
- Urinary symptoms like burning, blood in urine, pain
Questions to ask before treatment
- What will be the length of the therapy?
- What happens before the first treatment?
- How to relax before treatment sessions?
- What to wear for treatment?
- What happens during a treatment session?
- Will external beam radiation therapy make me radioactive?
What other types of radiation options do I have?
Our experts have written a detailed article about this. Read more here.
