Plymouth Radiotherapy Department
Plymouth Radiotherapy Department provides specialized cancer treatment using radiation therapy. Our experienced team of specialists are committed to delivering exceptional care in a supportive and compassionate environment.
We understand that a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, which is why we strive to make your radiotherapy experience as comfortable as possible. Our website offers comprehensive information about treatments, what to expect, and support resources.
Our service
The department is equipped with the following items as part of the PFI Managed Equipment Service. 2 Varian iX2100 linear accelerators with OBI and respiratory gating and 1 with ExacTrac®, 1 Varian Truebeam with respiratory gating and 4D CBCT and Free flattening filter (FFF) High-speed dose rate, GE CT scanner with 4DCT, Eclipse treatment planning systems High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy service. All equipment is networked by the Varian Aria patient management system.
What is Radiotherapy?
The aim of radiotherapy is to destroy as many abnormal (cancer) cells as possible, while causing as little damage to normal cells. It can also help with some non-cancer conditions.
Occasionally it's used alone, and other times it's combined with surgery, chemotherapy, or other treatments. Most radiotherapy is given by a machine called a Linear Accelerator (Linac). Each person's treatment is carefully planned for their specific needs.
Treatments, or 'fractions,' are normally delivered daily with rest days to allow the healthy tissue to repair and the patient to recover.
There are many different treatment schedules: some require patients to have more than one treatment a day; some patients might be treated on consecutive days.
Like any treatment, radiotherapy has risks and benefits. You might experience side effects, but we can manage them with medicines, other therapies, and support.
Your doctor will tell you about your treatment, how it might affect you, and any possible late effects. Any risks need to be balanced against your current health needs.
You should eat and drink normally before your treatment unless advised otherwise. Some patients may need to fast, but we will let you know if this applies to you before your appointment. If you are on regular medication, please bring enough to cover your travel and treatment time.
Types of Radiotherapy
There are two main types of radiotherapy:
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External beam radiotherapy—where the radiation is delivered from a machine outside the body. This page is mainly about external beam radiotherapy
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Brachytherapy - also known as internal radiotherapy, as a specialist machine (based at our main hospital in Liverpool) delivers radiation into body cavities or tissues.
Different types of external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy are used to treat different types of cancer. These include:
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Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR)
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Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)
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Orthovoltage x-ray treatment for small skin cancers
Our Vision Special features
Because we care about our patients, the Plymouth Oncology Centre at Derriford Hospital is undergoing an extension that involves building a new decant bunker to house a £1.9 million replacement linear accelerator (LINAC) and the creation of a dedicated High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy Facility.
LINAC bunkers, more commonly known as radiotherapy bunkers, contain equipment that is used primarily to treat cancer. It is important to provide the right level of radiation shielding to prevent high-energy rays from escaping the treatment room. To achieve this, the bunkers have walls and ceilings that are 2.2 meters thick, made of over 1400 tonnes of a specialist concrete called Magna Dense. A specialist company mixes this concrete offsite and brings it in for a complex process of pouring and curing.
The new decant bunker currently under construction will not only house the new LINAC, but it will also allow for the future replacement of our existing ones without any impact to radiotherapy services.
The new dedicated Brachytherapy Suite will include a treatment room, theater area, waiting areas, and recovery spaces. Being a complete theater suite, it will also allow other procedures to be carried out in the area.
