Palliative radiotherapy

In the majority of cases radiotherapy is used for palliation, where techniques attempt to improve the quality of life without reducing the life span.

Radiotherapy may be used in the treatment of metastases, for example cerebral metastases.

It may also be used to relieve bone pain, wheeze, dyspnoea and haemoptysis. Palliation of these symptoms may require only one or two fractions of radiation. It is now possible for short-course radiotherapy to be given as an outpatient which obviates the need for hospital admission. Responses to short term treatment appear as durable as for longer courses.

Urgent radiotherapy is indicated in:

• spinal cord compression:
  • this is an emergency requiring same day admission and treatment
• obstruction of major airways i.e. trachea or major bronchi
• superior vena cava obstruction