Radiotherapy treats cancer by using high-energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells while doing as little harm as possible to normal cells. There is more information about what it is and how it is given in the radiotherapy section.
when is it given?
Ewing's sarcoma responds well to radiotherapy and it’s sometimes used after chemo, and sometimes before or after surgery. Osteosarcomas aren't as sensitive to radiotherapy so it's used less often to treat this type of bone tumour. However, if a limb has fractured, radiotherapy might be given after surgery to destroy any cancer cells in the surrounding tissues.
If surgery isn't possible, for example the bone tumour is in the spine, then radiotherapy might be given instead of surgery.
You will have treatment every day for 5 weeks. Each treatment lasts for only a few minutes. There is more information about the planning of the treatment and how it is given in the radiotherapy section.
are there side effects?
Radiotherapy isn't painful but it can cause side effects, some are general and some are specific to the part of the body being treated. Side effects include tiredness, which can be extreme. You can get skin problems which can be like a severe reaction to the sun. Another common side effect is joint stiffness, physiotherapy can help with this. There is more information about side effects in the radiotherapy section.
