Radiation Therapy for Skin Cancer

Skin cancer treatments are first determined by the type of skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are types of skin cancer that can be treated with surgery, but can also be treated with radiation. Radiation therapy for skin cancer is a non-invasive treatment option. For patients who have skin cancer in difficult-to-reach areas or patients who have cosmetic concerns, radiation therapy may be preferred over surgery.

HDR brachytherapy radiation treatment for skin cancer has been around for decades. It is one of the best types of radiation therapy for skin cancer because it is so precise, making it ideal for treating skin cancer in sensitive or cosmetically important areas like the face, ears, or nose.

Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) is an advanced technique used to treat skin cancer by delivering precise radiation doses to targeted areas while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. In IMRT, radiation beams are shaped and modulated to conform to the three-dimensional shape of the tumor. This precision is particularly beneficial for treating irregularly shaped skin cancers or those located near critical structures, such as the eyes or nose.

IMRT involves detailed imaging studies, such as CT or MRI scans, to map the tumor’s exact location and shape. A computer algorithm then calculates the optimal radiation dose distribution. During treatment, the patient is positioned carefully, and the radiation machine delivers the prescribed dose in a series of fractions over several sessions. By focusing high doses directly on the cancer cells, IMRT can effectively shrink or eliminate skin tumors while reducing the risk of side effects.

Electron therapy is a specialized form of radiation therapy used to treat skin cancer by targeting superficial tumors with high precision. Unlike traditional radiation therapy, which uses photons, electron therapy employs a beam of electrons, which have limited penetration depth, making them ideal for treating cancers that are close to the skin’s surface.

During electron therapy, the patient undergoes imaging studies, such as CT or MRI scans, to accurately determine the tumor’s size and location. The treatment is then carefully planned to ensure that the electron beam delivers a concentrated dose of radiation directly to the cancerous cells while sparing the underlying healthy tissues.

The electron beam is adjusted to match the depth of the tumor, which allows it to effectively treat the cancer without affecting deeper tissues or organs. This precision makes electron therapy particularly suitable for treating non-melanoma skin cancers like basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, with minimal side effects.

Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) is an advanced radiation therapy technique used to treat skin cancer with high precision and efficiency. VMAT delivers radiation in a continuous arc around the patient, allowing for highly conformal treatment that targets the tumor while sparing surrounding healthy tissues.

In VMAT, the radiation dose, beam shape, and speed of delivery are modulated in real-time as the machine rotates around the patient. This dynamic adjustment allows for a more precise delivery of radiation to complex-shaped tumors, which is particularly beneficial for skin cancers located in challenging areas like the face, neck, or extremities.

Before treatment, detailed imaging, such as CT scans, is used to map the tumor’s exact location and shape. The treatment plan is then optimized to ensure maximum dose delivery to the cancer while minimizing exposure to adjacent tissues. VMAT’s ability to deliver treatment quickly and with high accuracy reduces treatment times and improves patient comfort.

A small, radiation-emitting source is placed directly onto the cancerous area, allowing the radiation to effectively target cancerous cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Because these treatments for skin cancer uses high doses of radiation, they only take a few minutes per session.

Radiation therapy for skin cancer is typically done on an outpatient basis, so patients can return home after receiving treatment. Depending on the type of cancer and how large the area is, patients might need to schedule several sessions over several weeks to receive treatment.

Patients may experience redness, swelling, or irritation at the treatment site, similar to a sunburn. These side effects are typically mild and usually go away a couple of weeks after finishing treatment.