What is chemoradiotherapy?

What is chemoradiotherapy?

Chemoradiotherapy is the combined use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with drugs.

Radiotherapy is the treatment of cancer with radiation using x-rays. You will not feel the radiotherapy when you have your treatment. It is like having a normal x-ray.

By combining these treatments, the chemotherapy make the radiotherapy more effective.

There are two types of radiotherapy given to patients with head and neck cancers: conventional radiotherapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).

Your oncologist will decide the most suitable type of radiotherapy for you.

Both of these types of radiotherapy are carefully planned and shaped to match the part of you that needs treatment. This helps to reduce any side effects you may get.