Tomotherapy in Mumbai, India

Tomotherapy is a type of radiotherapy in which radiation is precisely aimed at a tumor. It is a non-invasive method that delivers radiation by rotating the beam around the body of a patient and aiming the targeted beams at tumors from multiple directions. It is a sort of intensity-modulated therapy in which radiation is delivered solely to the tumor location, reducing radiation exposure in the surrounding area, and thus causing minimal damage to healthy tissue and organs. Furthermore, it is a type of image-guided therapy approach that adjusts the strength of radiation to the shape and size of the tumor.

Tomotherapy Alternate Name

Helical tomotherapy

Body location

The tomotherapy approach allows the treatment of a wide range of clinical problems, starting with extremely minor neoplastic tumors in the brain or throughout the body.

Tomotherapy Procedure

Tomotherapy is an advanced radiation treatment practiced in cancer therapy. It provides a three-dimensional view of the cancerous tissue to be treated. The patient is made to lie down on a table and is moved in all four directions. The material will be used to cover the portion of the patient's body that will not be exposed to the radiation. The machine directs the targeted beams by rotating around the body from various angles. The patient must be as motionless as possible during the process. Treatment sessions will be between 10 and 20 minutes.

Preparation For Tomotherapy

A 3-dimensional (3D) image of the tumor is generated using a variety of scanning modalities (such as CT, MRI, or PET) and sophisticated software before treatment begins. This aids the doctor in determining the tumor size, shape, and location, as well as the radiation dose that can destroy tumor cells while causing minimal damage to neighboring tissue. The treatment for tomotherapy is done as an outpatient procedure, which means that the patient can return home when the procedure is completed. Treatments will last between one and ten weeks and will be done daily.

Tomotherapy Procedure Type

Tomotherapy is a non-invasive procedure that does not require an incision into the body or the removal of tissue.

Follow-up After Tomotherapy

Follow-up care is used to monitor treatment outcomes, recurrence, and side effects after treatment. Post-treatment, the patient will have follow-up sessions with the radiation oncologist. The patient will undertake imaging tests to determine the effectiveness of the radiation after the completion of therapy sessions. Also, any allergies to radiation or side effects, which are rare, can be detected. During the period of treatment, the patient's treatment schedule, dosages, and overall health are thoroughly evaluated.

Benefits of Tomotherapy Treatment

• Tomotherapy is a very accurate method that exactly targets the tumor.
• This Tomotherapy treatment helps to keep the damage to the surrounding tissues to a minimum.
• When compared to other medications, it has fewer side effects.
• It's a painless, non-invasive technique that can be utilized alongside surgery, chemotherapy, and/or other drugs.
• The technique is suitable for tumors that are difficult to approach or are located near vital organs.
• Each session only takes a few minutes.
• It can treat several tumors simultaneously at once

Risks Factor of Tomotherapy

• Tomotherapy may induce temporary side effects such as nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, leg swelling, bladder problems, difficulty in urination, dry mouth, vomiting, or skin irritation.
• It may cause some adverse effects in the treated area. However, the majority of side effects fade away once therapy is completed. There are techniques to minimize such side effects if they occur.

Recovery From Tomotherapy

The patient may feel tired for four to six weeks after the last therapy session. This can be recovered gradually with the standard care given after the completion of therapy sessions.