Radiotherapy Treatment Suite

Where to book in

To check-in for radiotherapy go to the Colney Centre main reception desk and you will be directed to the radiotherapy waiting area.

Visitor facilities

Whilst you are welcome to bring a visitor with you they will not be allowed to enter the radiotherapy treatment machine area but will be asked to remain in the waiting area. Please note there are no facilities for child-care in the waiting areas.

What is radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy is a treatment that uses high energy x-rays and other similiar types of radiation.  The machines used to generate and deliver the radiation are ultra powerful and sophisticated versions of the diagnostic machines used in hospital x-ray departments.  We use two types of machine.

• The Gulmay machine (produces a range of lower energy superficial and orthovoltage x-rays)
• Linear Accelerator machines (produce megavoltage beams of x-rays which penetrate more deeply into the body)

Radiotherapy may be used alone or with other treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and hormones.  Radiation cannot be seen or felt and the treatment is completely painless.

How does radiotherapy work?

Treating a tumour with radiation causes changes in the cells that stop them from growing.  The dose of radiation is worked out so that tumour cells are destroyed but healthy cells are able to repair and recover.  Your treatment is carefully planned so that the effect on healthy cells is kept to a minimum. 

How is radiotherapy treatment given?

Radiotherapy Planning.  Your first appointment will be for radiotherapy planning.  This will involve having a planning CT scan in the Colney Centre.  Your consultant will use these x-ray images to precisely pin-point the area to be treated.  This appointment will take 30-60 minutes.

Radiotherapy Simulation.  You will be asked to attend for a simulation appointment.  The simulator is used to check the radiotherapy treatment plan that has been designed by your consultant using the planning CT scan. 

Radiotherapy Treatment.  Treatment usually begins within two weeks of radiotherapy planning.  Each treatment session takes no longer than 30 minutes (the actual radiatian dose only takes a few minutes of this session).  A course of treatment can vary in length from a single session to several weeks of treatment, attending on a daily basis.  Throughout your treatment you will be reviewed regularly by either your consultant or the Information and Support Radiographer. 

Opening Times

Based at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich