The Radiotherapy Village – levels R, R1 and R2
Radiotherapy Village - level R1The Cancer Centre is the first place in Europe to offer radiotherapy above ground level. If you are receiving radiotherapy, you will be asked to go to the Radiotherapy Village in the Cancer Centre.
A receptionist will help you to check-in when you arrive at the Radiotherapy Village and will show you where to wait.
Watch a short video about our Radiotherapy Village
Radiotherapy planning
Before having radiotherapy treatment, doctors and radiographers will plan your treatment to make sure you are getting the right doses to the right places. The team will use a CT scanner, which means you will be asked to change into a gown. This planning appointment will take about an hour.
You will be asked to lie on the couch and the radiographers will move you into position. The couch will move slowly through the open scanner and back. You will not feel anything and nothing will touch you. It is really important that you stay as still as possible and breathe normally.
The treatment suite offers a quiet environment, and staff will offer you the opportunity to listen to music to help you relax if you wish.
Radiotherapy treatment
RadiotherapyAs part of your radiotherapy treatment, doses of radiation will be delivered over a period of days or weeks.
Before your appointment, you will again be asked to change into a gown. The radiographers will help you into the same position that you were in for the planning session and move the treatment machine into position. It will move around you to deliver treatment but it won’t touch you. You will spend about 15 minutes in the treatment room.
Most radiotherapy is delivered in the Cancer Centre but if you are having brachytherapy or tomotherapy you may be asked to attend St Thomas’ Hospital.
Contact us
If you have a question about your radiotherapy treatment you can talk to your key worker, an advanced practice radiographer, by calling 020 7188 9333 between 8.30am-6.30pm.
(Photos this page: Morley Von Sternberg.)