Radiation Oncology services are available at the healthcare facility listed below.

Diagnostic, treatment and clinical services may vary depending on the healthcare facility. For detailed information about our services, please contact us.

Ankara – İncek LÖSANTE Hospital

A Modern Approach to Radiotherapy in Cancer Treatment

Radiation Oncology is a medical specialty that uses ionizing radiation to destroy cancer cells or prevent them from growing and dividing. Radiotherapy, also known as radiation therapy, is an important component of modern cancer treatment and may be used alone or in combination with surgery, chemotherapy and other systemic treatments.

At the LÖSANTE Hospital Radiation Oncology Department, treatment plans are evaluated through a multidisciplinary approach following a cancer diagnosis, and individualized radiotherapy programs are developed according to each patient’s clinical needs.

With advanced radiotherapy technologies and an experienced medical team, treatment is carefully planned with a focus on both therapeutic effectiveness and patient safety.

Contents

What Is Radiation?
What Is Radiotherapy?
How Does Radiotherapy Work?
What Are the Different Purposes of Radiotherapy?
Radiotherapy Technology at LÖSANTE Hospital
Who Should Consult the Radiation Oncology Department?
What Are the Possible Side Effects of Radiotherapy?
How Long Does Radiotherapy Take?
What Should Patients Consider During Radiotherapy?
Which Types of Cancer Can Be Treated with Radiotherapy?
Multidisciplinary Cancer Care in Radiation Oncology
Radiation Oncology at LÖSANTE Hospital

What Is Radiation?

Radiation is the emission or transfer of energy from a source in the form of electromagnetic waves or particles. Electromagnetic radiation consists of energy packets known as photons.

Electromagnetic radiation can broadly be classified into two categories:

Ionizing radiation
Non-ionizing radiation

Non-ionizing radiation includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation and visible light. Ionizing radiation, on the other hand, has sufficient energy to remove electrons from atoms and produce ionization.

This property allows ionizing radiation to be used for medical purposes, including the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

What Is Radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy is a treatment method in which ionizing radiation generated by specialized medical equipment or emitted by radioactive materials is delivered to a targeted area in a controlled manner.

The aim of radiotherapy is to deliver an appropriate radiation dose to tumor tissue in order to destroy cancer cells or stop their growth while minimizing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.

Advances in radiotherapy technology allow treatment to be planned with a high degree of precision. This makes it possible to target tumor tissue accurately while limiting the dose received by nearby healthy organs and tissues.

How Does Radiotherapy Work?

Ionizing radiation used during radiotherapy damages the DNA of cancer cells, interfering with their ability to divide and multiply. When sufficient damage occurs, cancer cells may lose their ability to reproduce and eventually die.

Healthy cells within or near the treatment area may also be affected by radiation. Therefore, modern radiotherapy planning aims to maximize the therapeutic dose delivered to the tumor while minimizing unnecessary radiation exposure to healthy tissues.

The fundamental principle of radiotherapy can therefore be summarized as:

Delivering an effective radiation dose to the tumor
Protecting surrounding healthy tissues as much as possible

What Are the Different Purposes of Radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy may be used at different stages of cancer treatment and for different therapeutic purposes. The treatment approach depends on the type and stage of cancer, the patient’s overall health and the overall treatment strategy.

Curative Radiotherapy

Curative radiotherapy is used with the intention of achieving long-term disease control or cure. Depending on the type of cancer, it may be used as the primary treatment or as part of a combined treatment approach.

Adjuvant Radiotherapy

Adjuvant radiotherapy may be administered after surgery and, in some cases, alongside or following systemic treatments. Its purpose is to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence by targeting microscopic cancer cells that may remain in the treatment area.

Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy

In certain types of cancer, chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be administered during the same treatment period. This approach is known as concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

The decision to use concurrent treatment depends on the type of cancer, disease stage and individual patient characteristics.

Preoperative Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy may sometimes be administered before surgery to reduce the size or extent of a tumor and support subsequent surgical treatment.

This approach is also referred to as neoadjuvant radiotherapy.

Palliative Radiotherapy

In advanced cancer, radiotherapy may be used to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.

Palliative radiotherapy may help manage symptoms such as:

Pain
Bleeding
Shortness of breath
Symptoms caused by pressure from a tumor

The dose and duration of palliative radiotherapy are individualized according to the patient’s condition and treatment goals.

Radiotherapy for Benign Conditions

Although radiotherapy is primarily associated with cancer treatment, it may also be considered for selected benign tumors or certain non-malignant conditions.

The decision to use radiotherapy in these cases is based on the specific diagnosis, expected benefits and potential risks.

Radiotherapy Technology at LÖSANTE Hospital

At the LÖSANTE Hospital Radiation Oncology Department, modern radiotherapy technologies are used for individualized cancer treatment.

Our department is equipped with the Varian TrueBeam radiotherapy system, an advanced platform designed for highly precise radiation treatment.

The TrueBeam system can support:

Precise tumor targeting using treatment imaging and image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT)
Optimization of treatment delivery
Improved protection of surrounding healthy tissues
Individualized treatment planning according to tumor location and patient anatomy

Image guidance enables the treatment team to verify the patient’s position and treatment area, supporting accurate delivery of radiation according to the treatment plan.

Who Should Consult the Radiation Oncology Department?

A Radiation Oncology consultation may be appropriate for:

Patients diagnosed with cancer
Patients for whom additional radiotherapy is being considered after surgery
Patients who may require radiotherapy together with chemotherapy
Patients for whom radiotherapy is being considered before surgery
Patients with advanced cancer who require treatment for pain or other tumor-related symptoms

The need for radiotherapy is determined individually. Treatment decisions may also be discussed within multidisciplinary tumor boards, where specialists from different medical disciplines evaluate the patient together.

What Are the Possible Side Effects of Radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy is carefully planned to limit radiation exposure to healthy tissues; however, side effects may still occur.

The type and severity of side effects vary depending on several factors, including the area being treated, radiation dose, treatment duration and the patient’s general health.

Possible side effects may include:

Fatigue
Skin sensitivity or redness in the treatment area
Dryness or peeling of the skin
Nausea or reduced appetite, depending on the treatment area
Local discomfort related to the area being treated

Different side effects may occur depending on the part of the body receiving radiation. For example, radiotherapy to the head and neck region may be associated with dry mouth or swallowing difficulties, while treatment involving the abdominal region may cause gastrointestinal symptoms.

Patients are regularly monitored by the Radiation Oncology team throughout treatment. When side effects occur, appropriate supportive measures are planned according to the individual patient’s needs.

How Long Does Radiotherapy Take?

The duration and number of radiotherapy sessions vary according to the type of cancer, tumor characteristics, treatment goal, radiation dose and selected treatment technique.

Radiotherapy may be delivered over several treatment sessions, known as fractions. Some treatment plans involve treatment on multiple days over several weeks, while selected patients may receive shorter treatment schedules with fewer fractions and different radiation doses.

The time spent in the treatment room also varies according to the technique being used. Much of this time may be required for accurate patient positioning and imaging before radiation is delivered.

For selected conditions, highly focused radiation techniques may also allow treatment to be delivered in fewer sessions.

The treatment schedule is therefore individually determined by the Radiation Oncology specialist rather than being the same for every patient.

What Should Patients Consider During Radiotherapy?

During radiotherapy, recommendations may vary depending on the treatment area, radiation dose and the individual patient’s clinical condition.

Skin Care

Skin in the treatment area may become more sensitive during treatment. Patients should follow the skin-care recommendations provided by their Radiation Oncology team.

In general:

Avoid products that may irritate the treatment area.
Choose clothing that does not cause unnecessary friction.
Do not apply creams, lotions or other products to the treatment area without consulting your healthcare team.

Nutrition and Hydration

Adequate nutrition is important during cancer treatment. Nutritional needs, however, may vary considerably according to the type of cancer, treatment area and the patient’s overall health.

Patients experiencing loss of appetite, swallowing difficulties, nausea or weight changes may benefit from individualized nutritional assessment and support.

Fluid intake should also be planned according to the patient’s overall medical condition and the recommendations of the healthcare team.

Rest and Energy Management

Some patients may experience fatigue during radiotherapy. Maintaining an appropriate balance between activity and rest can help patients manage their energy during treatment.

Light physical activity may be appropriate for some patients depending on their general condition, while others may require additional rest. Recommendations should be individualized.

Following the Treatment Schedule

Regular attendance at planned radiotherapy sessions is important for the intended treatment process.

If a patient is unable to attend a scheduled session because of illness or another reason, the Radiation Oncology team should be informed so that the treatment plan can be evaluated appropriately.

Which Types of Cancer Can Be Treated with Radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy may be used in the treatment of many different types of cancer.

These may include:

Breast cancer
Lung cancer
Prostate cancer
Brain tumors
Head and neck cancers
Uterine and cervical cancers
Lymphomas
Bone metastases

Radiotherapy may be used as a standalone treatment in selected patients or combined with surgery, chemotherapy and other cancer treatments depending on the individual clinical situation.

Multidisciplinary Cancer Care in Radiation Oncology

Cancer treatment frequently requires collaboration between several medical specialties. For this reason, radiotherapy planning is often part of a multidisciplinary cancer treatment approach.

Depending on the patient’s diagnosis, treatment planning may involve specialists from:

Radiation Oncology
Medical Oncology
Surgical specialties
Radiology
Pathology
Other relevant medical disciplines

This collaborative approach enables the patient’s diagnosis, disease characteristics and available treatment options to be evaluated comprehensively before an individualized treatment strategy is developed.

Radiation Oncology at LÖSANTE Hospital

At the LÖSANTE Hospital Radiation Oncology Department, radiotherapy is planned according to the type and location of the tumor, disease stage, the patient’s overall health and individual treatment needs.

Modern treatment planning, image-guided radiotherapy capabilities and the Varian TrueBeam system support precise delivery of radiation while helping protect surrounding healthy tissues.

Through an individualized, evidence-based and multidisciplinary approach, our Radiation Oncology team aims to provide comprehensive care throughout radiotherapy planning, treatment and follow-up.

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Taciser DEMİRKASIMOĞLU

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Taciser DEMİRKASIMOĞLU