Radiotherapy is a treatment involving the use of high-energy radiation. It’s commonly used to treat cancer. Almost half of all people with cancer have radiotherapy as part of their treatment plan. Radiotherapy is also sometimes used to treat benign (non-cancerous) tumours and other conditions, such as thyroid disease and some blood disorders. This information focuses mainly on the
Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment, with medicine used to kill cancer cells. It kills the cancer cells by damaging them, so they can’t reproduce and spread. Why chemotherapy is used Chemotherapy is used if a cancer has spread or if there’s a risk that it will. The main aim of treatment may be: to try to cure cancer completely – this is
There are about 130 different types of brain tumour. They are generally named after the type of cell they develop from. Most develop from the cells that support the nerve cells of the brain. These are called glial cells. A tumour of the glial cells is called a glioma. Brain tumours can also be named
