Radiation Therapy

External radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) uses high-energy x-rays to damage cancerous cells. This can be done by using a special machine that directs radioactive energy from outside the body at the cancerous cells or by implanting radioactive materials directly into or near the tumour. Radiation therapy is a useful way to target and reduce the size of a tumour, but because ovarian cancer cells have often spread throughout the abdomen, it is of limited use for treating ovarian cancer and is rarely used.

Radiation therapy is usually given five days a week, over the course of six or seven weeks.

Different people react in different ways to the treatment. The most common side effect of any radiation treatment is fatigue. You will likely feel very tired, particularly in the later weeks of treatment. It is common for fatigue to last for four to six weeks after your treatments are complete. Other side effects include red, itchy, sensitive skin and diarrhea. Most of these side effects stop once the radiation treatment has ended.

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