Brain tumour radiotherapy

What you need to know about

Brain tumour radiotherapy

We understand that facing the prospect of brain tumour radiotherapy for your child can be daunting. In this section, we aim to provide you with the knowledge and assurance you need.

You’re not on this journey alone, OSCAR’s are here to give you support and keep you informed.

If we can help support you in any other way, please get in touch here.

What is radiotherapy?

Brain tumour radiotherapy aims powerful high-energy X-ray beams at the tumour to target and destroy cancer cells. It is commonly used after surgery to shrink any tumour cells that weren’t removed. If your child’s tumour isn’t suitable to be operated upon, radiotherapy may be their main treatment. It may also be given in conjunction with chemotherapy.

Radiotherapy takes advantage of the fact healthy tissue repairs itself quicker than diseased tissue, so short blasts of radiation will kill off cancer cells reducing the size of the tumour or stopping further growth.

What happens?

To begin, your child will undergo a ‘radiotherapy planning scan,’ typically a CT or MRI scan. This scan creates a detailed 3D image of your child’s tumour, to precisely determine its size and location within the brain. This information is crucial for planning the treatment. The goal is to avoid exposing critical areas of the brain to radiation..

During the actual treatment, your child will need to remain perfectly still to ensure the radiation is accurately targeted. To help with this, a custom treatment mask is created specifically for your child’s face and head. This mask is designed to fit comfortably and securely, and it keeps your child’s head in the same position for each treatment session. Various types of masks are available, and they are crafted in conjunction with your child’s wishes with openings for the eyes, nose, and mouth to ensure your child can breathe easily.

We understand that wearing the mask may be intimidating for your child, and there are dedicated play therapists who can work with them to make the experience less frightening. Additionally, staff can arrange for your child to see the radiotherapy machine before the treatment begins, which can help ease anxieties they may have.

It’s important to emphasise that each treatment plan is tailored to your child’s unique needs, so their experience may differ from that of other children. If your child is very young or feeling extremely anxious and has difficulty staying still, measures can be put in place to ensure their comfort and cooperation.

During the treatment session, your child will lie on the radiotherapy bed with the machine positioned above them. Medical staff will gently place the mask on your child’s head and secure it to the bed, taking all the time necessary to ensure accurate alignment. Before the radiation machine is activated, staff will leave the room but remain close by, ensuring they can see, hear, and communicate with your child if needed.

It’s important to note that your child won’t see or feel the radiation beams, and they won’t experience any heat from the machine. They will, however, hear the machine, which is entirely normal.

After each treatment session, the medical team return to the room, remove the mask, and assist your child off the bed, safely storing the mask for their next session.

The duration of treatment will vary depending on your child’s individual plan, but please know that each treatment session is relatively short, usually lasting only a few minutes. The overall appointment may be longer due to the careful positioning required or if other treatments are needed alongside.

How often will my child have it?

If your child is receiving radiotherapy as part of their treatment plan, they will usually have one session per weekday. This is usually for 4-6 weeks, depending on their treatment plan.

What happens after treatment?

Side effects of radiotherapy vary – and some children may not have any. The most common side effects are tiredness, nausea, headaches, dry mouth, and skin soreness where the beam is focused. Sometimes children can lose some hair in this area too. Radiotherapy can sometimes cause pressure inside the skull. This can be caused by inflammation to the tissues being targeted by the radiotherapy. If there are any signs of this, doctors will prescribe steroids to reduce inflammation. Your child will likely have some follow-up scans after their radiotherapy to check how much the tumour has shrunk. Cell destruction is a slow process, and often requires up to six months for doctors to be able to see the treatment’s impact. This is why follow-up scans are done a few months after treatment is finished.

Proton beam therapy

Proton beam therapy is a type of radiotherapy that uses high-energy protons to precisely target and treat the tumour. This is instead of the X-rays used in traditional radiotherapy.

It is even more targeted and precise than traditional radiotherapy,. This reduces harm to nearby brain tissues. However, it doesn’t always offer a better option than traditional radiotherapy. That all depends on your child’s type of tumour and location.

Currently there are only two hospitals in the UK that have proton beam therapy facilities. They are The Christie Hospital in Manchester and University College Hospital in London. This means that to receive the treatment families need to be away at one of these locations for 6-8 weeks, which provides its own challenges.

Your child’s clinical oncologist will discuss with you whether proton therapy is the best option for your child and will talk you through the pros and cons of both types of radiotherapy.