What should you know about SBRT radiotherapy?

SBRT radiotherapy delivers precisely planned, high-dose radiation to a defined target in a small number of treatment sessions. Imaging, immobilisation, and computer planning help the team shape treatment around nearby healthy tissue. Whether it is suitable depends on the tumour’s location, size, movement, previous treatment, and your general health.

At the planning visit, scans identify the target and organs that need protection. You may receive a custom support device or skin marks to help you lie in the same position. At each session, the machine moves around you while you remain still. The beam is delivered from several directions and the treatment team monitors positioning.

SBRT can be used for selected tumours in areas such as the lung, brain, liver, spine, or other sites. It may be used as the main local treatment or for a carefully chosen area when the wider treatment plan requires local control. The name of the cancer and its stage guide the decision.

Tell the radiotherapy team about medicines, pregnancy or possible pregnancy, implanted devices, prior radiation, and difficulty staying in one position. Follow instructions about eating, drinking, breathing, or bowel and bladder preparation. Wear comfortable clothing and arrange help if fatigue or travel makes visits difficult.

After treatment, protect treated skin from irritation as advised and keep follow-up appointments. Tiredness can build during the course or afterward. The treatment area determines other effects: chest treatment may affect breathing, while brain treatment may cause headache or nausea. Your team can prescribe support early.

Contact the treatment team for new or worsening pain, persistent vomiting, fever, a new rash or wound in the treated area, or symptoms that interfere with drinking or daily activity. Seek urgent care for sudden weakness, seizure, severe breathing difficulty, confusion, or heavy bleeding. The location treated changes which warning signs matter most.

Ask what target is being treated, why SBRT is appropriate, how many visits are planned, what preparation is required, which nearby organs need protection, how side effects will be managed, and how response will be checked.