Do you need a referral for external beam radiotherapy?

Your treating specialist commonly sends the diagnosis, imaging, pathology and treatment history to radiation oncology. Booking rules differ, so a radiotherapy centre can tell you whether it accepts direct requests or needs a formal referral.

Radiotherapy is not booked as a single standard procedure. A radiation oncologist assesses the area being treated, the aim of treatment, previous therapies, other medical conditions and whether radiotherapy fits the wider care plan.

If treatment is recommended, planning may include a dedicated scan and a personalised treatment position. The team calculates how radiation should reach the target while limiting exposure to nearby healthy tissue. A referral therefore starts an evaluation and does not by itself confirm that treatment will proceed.

Ask the doctor managing your cancer or suspected cancer whether radiation oncology input is appropriate and which centre will receive the request. If you are approaching a centre yourself, ask what clinical documents it needs and whether it can request records from your current team.

Gather your diagnosis summary, pathology and scan reports, details of surgery or medicines used for cancer, current prescriptions, allergies and information about implanted devices. Mention previous radiotherapy, pregnancy or possible pregnancy before any planning scan or treatment.

A referral pathway should not delay urgent assessment. Seek immediate medical care for new severe weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, major breathing difficulty, a seizure, sudden confusion or uncontrolled bleeding. Contact your cancer team promptly for rapidly worsening pain or symptoms that prevent eating, drinking or taking essential medicines.

If radiotherapy has already begun, use the treatment team's contact instructions for a new or sharply worsening reaction. The team can check whether the symptom relates to treatment and advise supportive care.

Ask about the goal of radiotherapy, other reasonable options, which records have been sent and how treatment will fit with surgery or cancer medicines. At the radiation oncology visit, discuss expected effects for the body area treated, practical preparation and whom to call between appointments.