External radiation - Old woman touching knee feeling pain

How Can Radiotherapy Help To Treat Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a condition that affects millions of people around Europe, especially older individuals and is the most common form of arthritis. Once seen as a consequence of wear and tear, it is now understood to be a disease that can affect any joint.

It is not a disease with one sole cause, but a combination of several factors. Some of these relate to lifestyle, but others do not. These include:

  • Genetic predisposition, as the condition can be heredatory
  • Gender, with women more susceptible
  • Existing musculoskeletal disorders

Are Osteoarthritis Cases Increasing?

According to the Global Burden of Disease Study, in 2020, there were 595 million osteoarthritis sufferers worldwide, equating to 7.6 per cent of the global population.

As the number of people living longer increases, cases are projected to increase significantly by 2050, with osteoarthritis of the knee, the most common form of the disease, set to increase by 74.9 per cent.

Age is not the only factor in the growing prevalence of osteoarthritis, with a high BMI contributing in a fifth of cases, indicating that more sedentary lifestyles in affluent parts of the world, such as Europe, have made the problem worse. In Central Europe, prevalence was up 57.3 per cent in 2020 compared with 1990.

The growing frequency with which people are suffering from osteoarthritis has motivated the research and development of new and enhanced methods of treating the condition. While many of these involve taking medication of various types, radiotherapy can also be effective.

How Does Radiation Treatment Reduce Pain And Inflammation?

This may come as a surprise to many, who would regard radiotherapy as something used against cancer, with those having some knowledge of its mechanisms understanding that the radiation delivered by such treatment is used to damage the DNA of tumour cells, causing cell death and the shrinkage of tumours.

Although this is indeed how radiotherapy works against tumours, it can bring different benefits when used to treat osteoarthritis.

The kind of radiotherapy given is low-dosage external radiation therapy, using beams that can pass through the skin into the affected joint (such as the knee or shoulder).

It works by using the same mechanism as radiotherapy used to treat cancer cells by triggering cell death. In this instance, the radiation causes apoptosis (controlled cell death) in inflammatory cells, which has the effect of reducing the capacity of the immune system to respond to the disease by generating inflammation.

How Does Radiotherapy Affect Cytokines?

Similarly, it also suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are proteins with the specific task of triggering and directing immune responses.

Some may be familiar with the term ‘cytokine storm’, where too many cytokines can lead to excessive inflammation and an overactive immune system. This is a common problem in autoimmune conditions.

In this case, the pro-inflammatory cytokine response to osteoarthritis is not excessive, but it does result in inflammation and chronic pain, which is why suppressing it is beneficial.

Moreover, the benefits extend further as the reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines is accompanied by an increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines, effectively reversing the normal immune response and reducing inflammation as a result.

What research has indicated is that low-dosage radiotherapy has had a beneficial effect for many patients in relieving the chronic pain of osteoarthritis. A particularly valuable benefit is that this has often been the case for patients who have not gained substantial relief from other treatments, such as physiotherapy or drugs.

As well as reducing pain, the benefits include greater mobility, which combine to provide the patient with a greater quality of life.

What Are The Side Effects Of Low-Dose Radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy is widely understood to bring side-effects for patients, and in the case of those facing very serious conditions such as cancer, this is a fact of life, with symptoms such as hair loss, skin soreness, tiredness, lack of libido and gastrointestinal issues all being commonly experienced during treatment.

However, because the dosage of radiation is significantly lower when it is being used to treat osteoarthritis, the side effects in this case are fewer and the treatment is usually safe. Among the side effects that commonly occur are nail problems and mild erythema.

The extent to which pain relief is experienced can vary and, as with any treatment, a central feature of our approach is to tailor it to your personal circumstances.

Wider health issues, age, weight, genetics, the presence of musculoskeletal issues and other factors will not only determine the likelihood of suffering osteoarthritis, but also the effectiveness of treatment and the approach that will need to be taken to provide the best possible results in each patient’s case.

Nonetheless, it remains the case that low-dosage radiation therapy is an effective tool in providing relief from osteoarthritis symptoms and may be used with increasing frequency in the years ahead, should projected increases in incidences of the disease prove accurate and no major breakthrough in other forms of treatment is forthcoming.

radiotherapy centre austria - breast cancer awareness concept

When Should You Go Home Following International Cancer Care?

Travelling abroad for treatment is a major commitment to your health, as you get access to state-of-the-art equipment, elite specialists in the field of oncology and access to a wide range of multidisciplinary therapies and treatments not always available in your home country.

We know the importance of the entire care experience when treating cancer, so at our international radiotherapy centre in Vienna, we can provide assistance at every step of your treatment, from advice on securing necessary visas, arranging accommodation and providing continued support throughout your stay.

Part of the considerations will include the travel arrangements, both outbound to Austria and back home. The latter is of particular importance, as depending on the nature of your treatment plan, you may need to spend some time resting and recuperating before you are deemed fit to fly.

However, whether to begin the next stage of your recovery at home or to avoid taking too much time away from work, home and family commitments following a one-day treatment such as some stereotactic radiosurgery procedures, you may be asking when you should return home following the end of treatment.

The short answer is that you should return when your doctor agrees that you are fit to fly and you feel well enough to do so.

To explain why, it is important to understand how treatment may affect travel arrangements, how travel can affect your initial recovery, and what you should do if you are advised to remain in Vienna.

How Is Travel Affected By Cancer Treatment?

Travelling long distances can be stressful on the body, and flying in particular exerts several forces, changes in oxygen levels in the cabin and atmospheric pressures that are typically well-tolerated by the body but can cause issues following certain types of treatment or if you are feeling unwell.

In many cases, this will not affect your ability to fly, but in certain situations, caution may be advised in some cases.

These situations include following conventional surgery (but not stereotactic radiosurgery), if you have a lower red blood cell count, feel breathless or light headed climbing a flight of stairs or are immunocompromised and are at greater risk of catching an infectious disease,

Even if there are no serious risks to travel, if you are feeling particularly fatigued or in pain, a prolonged journey in a confined space could be more uncomfortable than it needs to be.

If you are concerned about return travel arrangements, discuss them with your cancer care team. They will be able to provide tailored advice regarding whether it is safe to travel and any precautions you may need to take.

How Does Radiotherapy Affect Travel Arrangements?

Unlike surgery or chemotherapy, which typically require a few weeks to recover before flying, radiotherapy can vary depending on your exact treatment and how you have been progressing with the early stages of your recovery.

In many cases, you can theoretically travel immediately after your final dose of radiotherapy, although for practical reasons such as existing travel itineraries and the time required for your cancer doctor to let the airline know that you are fit to fly and if you require any specific arrangements.

In some cases, you might be particularly sensitive, sore or fatigued after treatment, and so it might be recommended that you wait until you have fully recovered or feel well enough to travel. If you have waves of energy, it may be advised to arrange travel for a day when you feel more ready for it.

Both you and your cancer team will ultimately know when the time is right, and it will be one of several topics that will be discussed during the final treatment appointments.

What Should You Do If You Are Advised To Stay?

We will help and support you every step of the way, from arranging an extension to your accommodation, travel arrangements and follow-up appointments to check in on your health and make sure you are ready to go.

Other than contacting us if you feel your symptoms suddenly improve or get worse, try to enjoy your time in Vienna. Reducing stress is a key step towards your recovery, and taking the time to relax, enjoy the sights and sounds of the historic city and having a little holiday is all part of the process of treatment and recovery.

radiotherapy centre - Female Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Why Are Primary And Secondary Cancers Treated Differently?

Everyone who is diagnosed with cancer will often receive tailored, bespoke care, either in terms of the schedule of treatment they receive, whether they travel to another country to receive specialist care that may not be available in their country of residence, or if they need to look into more experimental treatments.

As a specialist radiotherapy centre, we understand that effective cancer care involves a wide, multidisciplinary approach that takes into account not only the primary specialist treatment, but also physical health, mental health, nutrition, occupational therapy and many other fields.

Everyone takes a different cancer care journey, not only because there are so many different types of cancers, but also because they can also affect the body in different ways.

One element that can have a major effect on cancer treatment is the stage and grade of the cancer, as well as whether it is a primary or secondary cancer.

To explain why this distinction is important for cancer treatment, it is important to briefly explain the difference between primary and secondary cancers.

How Do Primary And Secondary Cancers Differ?

Most cancers that are diagnosed are primary cancers, which are tumours, lesions or growths that develop in one part of the body and remain there until they are treated and destroyed.

In some cases, however, cancer cells can spread to another part of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. Sometimes these cells just travel and are broken down, but in other cases, they can develop and grow in a new location.

This is known as metastasis, and the cancer that develops from this is a secondary or metastatic cancer.

Many, if not most, types of cancer have the potential to metastasise if they progress for long enough, and one of the reasons why early detection of cancer can be so important is to avoid metastasis if at all possible.

A secondary cancer will be described and diagnosed based on its original location. For example, prostate cancer that has spread to the liver is not described as liver cancer but as prostate cancer that has spread to the liver or liver metastases.

Can You Have A Secondary Cancer Without A Primary Cancer?

Whilst in most cases a person will have both a primary and secondary cancer, there are some relatively rare cases where a secondary cancer tumour is found but a primary one is not.

In some cases, this is due to previous treatment that has destroyed the primary cancer, but some cells have escaped into the bloodstream, whilst in other cases, the original cancer is so small and harmless that it has escaped detection but led to the development of a secondary tumour.

It is possible that the metastatic cancer is found before the original tumour, and a major part of treatment in this case is determining the point of origin, as it can have a significant effect on treatment.

In the example above, prostate cancer that has spread to the liver is not the same as liver cancer, and would require a very different set of treatments.

Are Secondary Cancers The Same As Advanced Cancers?

Secondary cancers are also known as metastatic, Stage 4 or advanced cancers, and whilst there is a considerable amount of overlap, not all advanced cancers spread, and not all cancers that spread are necessarily advanced.

This distinction is important, as advanced cancers often require more complex, specialist and immediate treatment to control and remove before they stop responding to treatment, which can require some significant decisions to be made when it comes to where and how you receive care.

Several cancers that metastasise can be cured entirely, most notably testicular cancer, whilst others can still be controlled very well depending on where they are located and whether they respond well to treatment.

This is one reason why some oncologists will use a different or more nuanced staging and categorisation system than the traditional four stages.

Systems such as TNM (Tumour, Node, Metastasis) are preferred as they can provide more accurate information in more complex cases, such as smaller secondary cancers that can be easily treated.

Whilst the example of testicular cancer that spreads to a part of the body where it can be treated easily without any major complications would still be considered a Stage 4 cancer, the TNM system would focus on its size, appearance in the lymph nodes (a sign of spreading) and metastasis.

In any case, oncologists will carefully consider your particular situation, overall health and tumour placements before arranging any specialist treatment.

brustkrebs strahlentherapie (breast cancer radiotherapy) - pink badge on woman chest

What Should I Expect During Breast Cancer Radiotherapy?

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in women within the EU region and the picture is the same when you look at the prevalence of this form of cancer in Austria. It is estimated that one in 11 women in the EU will develop breast cancer before they reach the age of 74.

This means that it is reasonably likely that you will know someone who has received a breast cancer diagnosis, either in Austria or elsewhere in the EU.

Being diagnosed with breast cancer can be scary. However, it’s important to note that with the right treatment plan, you can beat breast cancer. In fact, the avoidable mortality rate for breast cancer in Austria is nine per cent below the EU average.

Avoidable mortality means deaths as a result of conditions that could be prevented or treated. Having a low avoidable mortality rate is therefore positive, because it shows more women are receiving the treatment they need to survive the disease.

What are the treatment options for breast cancer?

The most appropriate treatment for breast cancer will depend on the size and location of the tumour. For some women, this could mean having a lump surgically removed from the breast. This is called a lumpectomy.

For others, it could mean a full mastectomy, where one breast is fully removed, or a double mastectomy where both are removed.

You will need to undergo a detailed diagnostic procedure so that your medical team can fully understand the nature of your tumour and its precise location. Often tools such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) will be used to understand the characteristics of each patient’s cancer.

After breast cancer surgery, radiotherapy is often recommended to reduce the risk of the cancer returning and destroy any remaining cancer cells.

How does breast cancer radiotherapy work?

After you have had surgery, you will usually require breast cancer radiotherapy. Our team uses high-performance treatment planning software, based on data from your MRI and CT scans, as well as your other relevant medical information, to develop the most optimal treatment plan for you.

This treatment plan is completely personalised to your cancer and therefore you can feel confident that the radiotherapy will be targeted in the most efficient way to help you on the road to recovery.

In most cases, external beam radiation will be the most appropriate option for post-surgery treatment. This is a well-known and generally reliable form of radiotherapy that works by directing one or more beams of high-energy X-ray directly at your tumour.

These X-rays damage the structure of the cancer cells, which prevents them from multiplying. We use a medical linear accelerator, commonly known as a LINAC, during our radiotherapy treatments. This piece of equipment can rotate around you during your treatment, which enables us to direct the radiation at your tumour from different angles.

The main benefit of this approach is that it maximises the cancer cells’ exposure to the radiation, while minimising exposure for the healthy cells in the breast and surrounding tissue.

Although the precise number of radiotherapy sessions you’ll require will depend on your specific diagnosis, normally this treatment is administered over the course of multiple sessions that span several weeks.

These breaks in treatment are important as they give the healthy cells time to recover before you receive your next round of radiotherapy.

How can you tell if the radiotherapy is working?

We use a technique called in-vivo monitoring during your course of treatment. This tracks the precise dose and location of the radiation administered as your course of radiotherapy progresses.

As a result, we can adjust your treatment as needed, based on how the tumour responds to the radiotherapy.

How can I prepare for breast cancer radiotherapy?

Make sure you talk to the team at the radiotherapy clinic you’re visiting to understand what will happen during each round of treatment. When you have radiotherapy you will normally be asked to undress in the area that requires treatment.

During the session, you’ll need to stay still to allow the radiographers to precisely target the X-rays. Your radiographers will leave the room during your treatment but will speak to you throughout and may give you simple instructions.

The best way you can prepare for your treatment is to give yourself plenty of time to arrive for your sessions so that you feel as calm as possible. It’s also important to allow yourself to rest when you need to.

One of the most common side effects of radiotherapy is tiredness and weakness, so be kind to yourself and don’t try to do too much.

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Interview with Dr. David Kuczer — Fast Access to Advanced, Personalised Treatment

In this interview, our partner radiation oncologist Dr. David Kuczer speaks with Maja Zakarija—a Certified Medical Travel Professional and Austria-accredited Pharmaceutical Representative—about the biggest challenges international patients face when seeking cancer treatment abroad, and how Amethyst Radiotherapy Austria provides individualised, timely care tailored to each individual patient.

Dr. Kuczer also explains how modern radiotherapy is advancing cancer treatment: for selected indications, outcomes comparable to surgery can be achieved in 3–8 short sessions (~10 minutes each) over the course of approximately 1.5 weeks, without a scalpel or anaesthesia. Suitability is always assessed by our multidisciplinary team.

▶ Watch the full interview

radiotherapy centre - Patient Undergoes Rehabilitation

What Are The Best Gifts To Receive During Cancer Treatment?

Following a cancer diagnosis, there will inevitably be a lot of questions about treatment, all of which are important, but not all of which will necessarily relate to a person’s primary care.

Depending on the nature, location and stage of your cancer diagnosis, cancer treatment can vary in terms of completion time from a matter of weeks to months if not years. This means that it can often overlap with festive seasons, anniversaries, birthdays or other important milestones.

This is especially important if you are undergoing care at a specialist radiotherapy centre abroad, because the primary treatment needs to be balanced with as much normality, care and positivity as is possible.

Part of this is a matter of treatment outcomes; whilst research is uncertain about the effects of a positive attitude to cancer treatment, the effects of stress are more documented.

As well as this, your support network is there for you, and one of the biggest and most important ways to show this if they are unable to be at your bedside is through meaningful gifts.

With that in mind, here are some of the best, most practical and most considered presents you can receive during cancer treatment.

Soft, Comfortable Clothes

It is essential to feel as comfortable as possible whilst undergoing cancer treatment, particularly during the winter chill that often accompanies the festive season. This means that warm, breathable, soft fabrics make for perfect gifts that can be personalised.

Socks, slippers and scarves are always needed, but loose-fitting, soft clothing using natural materials such as cashmere is often needed, and full-zip hoodies can be ideal for keeping warm whilst also ensuring that they can be easily taken off for radiotherapy sessions.

Warm, Soft Throw Blanket

Combining warmth and comfort, a soft blanket is a regular companion for many people undergoing cancer treatment. It keeps their body warm and their mind filled with positivity, particularly if it is given to them as a gift from a loved one.

What makes it such an effective gift, besides its practicality, is the scope for personalisation. As long as it is made from a soft enough material to avoid skin irritation, it can be made in any colour and feature any design.

A particularly thoughtful option is a blanket in the colour of a cancer ribbon, or one with messages of hope and positivity to provide a reminder that so many people are in your corner to help you get the best outcome possible from your cancer care.

Audiobooks

Depending on your treatment, there may be points where you are waiting for treatment, waiting for results or are in the treatment room for extended stretches of time.

For those moments, as well as days when cancer fatigue hits harder than usual, it is important to have something easy, yet enjoyable, distracting and easy to pass the time.

One of the most popular options is a book; they are easy to pack, affordable, highly personal and make great gifts irrespective of the reason, but there are times when brain fog, tiredness and muscle fatigue can make reading a physical book less easy.

Instead, buying an audiobook as a digital present can be more practical, as they can put on some headphones and listen to it to pass the time, much like a playlist of music they like or a new album.

Sometimes it will be a particularly tailored choice, but in other cases, a book can be something that has personal significance that can show that they are thinking of you and want to help however they can.

Easy Entertainment

As well as this, board games and card games that are light enough to carry around and can be played without causing too much fatigue can also be really helpful.

Alternatively, a book of puzzles such as crosswords, wordsearches or sudoku can be a lovely gift, or if they prefer playing games on a mobile device, many platforms allow you to make gift purchases that they can redeem.

Ginger And Lemon Treats

Foods, drinks and snacks containing ginger are not gift ideas that typically come to mind, but they can make for remarkably thoughtful presents.

Ginger has historically been used to treat stomach upsets and relieve the effects of nausea, and whilst they obviously cannot replace anti-emetics that have been prescribed for you, they can help provide some relief if you struggle with regular sickness.

Similarly, lemon tea and lemon drops can help if you are suffering from dry mouth, as they encourage the production of saliva.

Radiotherapy Centre - Doctor consulting man patient with suspected prostate cancer

New Discovery Boosts Radiotherapy For Prostate Cancer

The use of radiotherapy for prostate cancer can be highly effective in preventing the disease from progressing, with a key aim being to prevent metastasis, the progression of a cancer from primary to secondary, at which point it can appear in other parts of the body.

However, even when metastasis takes place, radiotherapy can still have a major impact in slowing or preventing the spread of cancer.

We offer image-guided treatment using stereotactic radiotherapy delivered in five fractions with sub-millimetre precision.. This particular form of radiotherapy is designed to aim very precise beams of intense radiation at a small area from multiple angles, helping to provide maximum dosage to disrupt the cell DNA of the cancer while minimising exposure to healthy tissue nearby.

The Benefits Of Stereotactic Radiotherapy

A key difference between the use of stereotactic radiotherapy for prostate cancer and standard beam radiotherapy is that while the latter typically involves more than 20 sessions of treatment over four to six weeks, stereotactic radiotherapy is delivered in around five treatments (fractions) over one to two weeks.

This can be very convenient for anyone travelling to our radiotherapy centre in Vienna from a distance, but what matters most is that it is also very effective.

In addition, the use of stereotactic radiotherapy for some prostate cancer patients may produce even better outcomes when combined with a specialised medicine known as a radiopharmaceutical, which delivers extra radiation to a ligand, a type of molecule that is attracted to cancer cells. They are often used to target tumours on the prostate.

This is the finding of a new piece of research that has just been presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology.

What The Research Reveals

Conducted by the University of California, Los Angeles, the Phase II LUNAR trial is the first randomised study to show that patients undergoing a combination of stereotactic radiotherapy and a radiopharmaceutical in prostate cancer with limited metastasis can live longer without disease progression than when the radiotherapy is used alone.

The particular category of patients to which the research applies is sufferers from hormone-sensitive, oligometastatic prostate cancer with between one and five metastasised lesions as detected by a scan. This means they have secondary cancer in up to five locations away from the prostate.

At present, the use of stereotactic radiotherapy for such patients has the benefit of enabling them to live longer without the level of disease progression that would require the use of androgen deprivation therapy, which can be effective as a treatment but comes with major side effects, such as reduced bone density and cardiovascular problems.

Although this use of radiotherapy brings major benefits, the cancer tends to return, which the researchers noted is due to very small-scale disease that cannot be detected by scans.

A Microscopic Threat

Lead investigator in the trial and professor of oncology at the University of California, Dr Amar Kishan, observed: “Metastasis-directed radiation therapy delays progression, but many patients still [see the cancer] recur. That tells us there must be disease present that we can’t see even with today’s advanced imaging.”

The implication is that the radiopharmaceuticals are attacking cancer cells that have not been detected in scans, reducing the capacity of undetected microscopic cancers to cause recurrences of disease.

A central finding of the trial was that for patients receiving these radiopharmaceuticals in addition to stereotactic radiotherapy, the median time that elapsed before they had to undergo hormonal therapy was 18 months, compared with seven months for those without the radiopharmaceuticals.

Dr Kishan said that while hormonal drugs remain very important in secondary cancer care, any advance in radiotherapy treatments that delays the arrival of the time when they need to be used is a “meaningful quality of life win”.

Although this benefit is clear, around 64 per cent of the patients taking radiopharmaceuticals eventually experienced disease progression, which Dr Kishan noted is a sign that further research is required into microscopic disease, its effects on cancer and the implications for treatment.

However, where one beneficial discovery has been made, others might soon follow.

How We Can Help You

If you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and are unhappy with the level of care or form of radiotherapy you are receiving, you may find we can offer something much better in the form of stereotactic radiotherapy.

It does remain to be seen just how soon the use of radiopharmaceuticals to combat metastasised prostate cancer in the way described above becomes common practice. Further research may be carried out to verify the findings before this happens, either in the US or elsewhere, including here in Austria.

Even so, we remain committed to using the most up-to-date equipment, techniques and medical knowledge to provide the best possible treatment for our patients and achieve the most optimal outcomes.

Learn more about our Radiotherapy treatments for prostate cancer on the Amethyst Radiotherapy Austria website

radiotherapy centre - Breast Cancer Awareness

How To Prepare For Long-Term Cancer Treatment Abroad

Deciding to have your cancer care abroad is a huge step, one that is typically taken because a specialist radiotherapy centre with state-of-the-art equipment is a significant part of the best course of treatment available to you.

Because radiotherapy is a diverse treatment that is used for a wide variety of treatment types that range in intensity from low-dose pain relief to precise single-session radiosurgery, people will spend varying amounts of time at our clinic in Austria.

A long-term course of medical treatment can sometimes be intimidating, as it will often involve lifestyle changes and changes to your schedule that may take some time to prepare for.

This can be compounded by travelling to another country for treatment and spending an extended stint away from home.

This is why we not only try to provide the best possible specialist cancer treatment from our clinic, but our holistic cancer team can also offer help with everything else that could become an issue during your stay, from mental and physical therapy to making arrangements to stay in Vienna so you do not have far to travel for regular treatments.

Do As Much Research As Possible Before You Travel

A lot of the preparatory work will take place quite some time before your flight to Vienna, and our cancer team in Vienna will often talk to your local doctor or specialist oncologist before any travel arrangements are made.

There will typically be discussions between our medical staff and your local medical team in order to swap medical details and to ensure that the treatment we offer is the best treatment plan for you, so you can make an informed choice.

Find out what medical insurance you need and what it covers, as you may require a specialist plan if you are travelling for planned treatments. As well as this, make sure you have any relevant visas and explore transport and accommodation options. We will help with all of this using our special international patient care team.

Our team will provide a detailed, clear treatment plan, including how many treatments you need, the length of your stay, and any expected follow-up care. We will also be more than happy to answer any questions you have about your treatment.

Finally, ask about aftercare and how long it will take following the final part of your treatment before you are fit to fly home. Some treatments require more recovery time than others, and it is important to be safe.

Look For Local Support Groups

Wherever you have cancer treatment, support groups can be essential for helping you to understand what your treatment may entail and see people on different steps of the journey you are to embark on.

They will be able to offer advice, explain their experiences and provide companionship during a rather unfamiliar time in a rather unfamiliar place.

As well as this, many people who have had treatment with us before will be happy to talk to you about their experience with us specifically.

Visit Our Clinic Before Treatment

We will proudly show you our state-of-the-art clinic with specialist Elekta Linear accelerators (LINAC) machines, but we would also strongly recommend coming to see us ahead of your first appointment to see the clinic, meet the team in person and have any questions you have of us answered.

Our experience means that we can answer a broad range of questions, from the specifics of the radiotherapy machines we use to recommendations for hotels, cafes and parks nearby to unwind after your appointment.

Make Sure To Pack A Cancer Care Bag

A cancer treatment bag is an essential and often rather personal, packed bag with essentials to make every appointment easier.

As you will be away from home for a long stretch of time, these creature comforts are more important than ever before, and whilst some essentials can be bought whilst in Vienna, others should be packed in your luggage and taken with you.

Here are some recommended items to bring with you from home as opposed to buying whilst in Austria:

  • A comforter, which may include a pillow, a blanket or a cuddly toy to help you get comfortable whilst waiting for your appointment or during longer treatment sessions.
  • Warm, loose clothes to help manage the chill that comes with cancer fatigue. Thick, soft socks are particularly vital to stop heat escaping.
  • Your phone, a laptop or a tablet with movies and shows to watch to pass the time.
  • A notepad and pencil to write or sketch ideas and thoughts.
  • Keepsakes to ensure you know that back home, people are there for you.
  • Immobilisation mask
  • High-factor sun cream
  • Gentle moisturiser

Alongside these, pick up some unscented doctor-approved unscented moisturisers and lip balm, water and nutritious snacks if you are waiting a while.

Patients can, of course, visit the centre before the treatment. We also provide a virtual video consultation for foreign patients before they make a decision to come for treatment here.

explaining the results of a CT scan - explaining the results of a CT scan

What Should You Know Before Your First Radiotherapy Session?

For many, if not most people who receive a diagnosis, the first few days and weeks leading up to the start of their treatment can be difficult to navigate simply because they are filled with unknowns.

An increasing number of cancer types can be treated, and as both diagnosis and radiotherapy technologies become increasingly sophisticated, these treatments are faster, more effective and put less strain on the body than ever before.

One potential expectation of cancer care is that it is a much more intense treatment than it actually is. Here is what you should know about radiotherapy before your first treatment.

It Does Not Hurt

During the treatment planning stages and consultation with your cancer team, we will describe how radiotherapy works, which involves firing beams of radiation in precise locations in the body to target and destroy cancer cells.

It can sound quite aggressive, but in practice, radiotherapy is a painless treatment. There is typically no noise, no discomfort and no pain whilst the radiotherapy beam does its precise work in targeting cancer cells precisely.

All you need to do is relax in our comfortable clinical environment for a few minutes and the treatment will take full effect.

Our team of radiographers will make sure you are comfortable before treatment, and whilst they will not be in the room during the session, you will still be able to talk to them throughout.

Moisturisation Matters

Cancer treatment radiotherapy can cause side effects which your cancer team will warn you about ahead of time; whilst they can vary from person to person and treatment to treatment, most of them are temporary, can be managed and will generally fade once your treatment is over.

One of the best ways to manage many of the symptoms that come with a course of radiotherapy is moisturisation and taking care of sensitive skin.

Make sure to drink plenty of fluids and use more moisturiser than you would normally, especially if you typically have sensitive skin.

One of the more common effects of radiotherapy is dry skin and red patches, particularly when treating a cancer close to the skin. This will not affect your whole body, but just the areas of the skin where radiation passes through.

Your radiographer will look out for you and can provide expert advice on the right types of creams to use, or use special dressings if there is a particularly strong reaction to the treatment to soothe discomfort.

Try not to irritate the skin, so do not shave, use hair removal creams, avoid using perfume directly on it and avoid using heating or cooling pads directly on the area.

Dress In Loose Layers

Alongside more sensitive skin, two other common effects of radiotherapy treatment for cancer are that you might feel more fatigued after treatment, and because of this, you may also feel a little more sensitive to temperatures.

Because of this, it may be best to dress up in loose-fitting clothes with natural fibres, as well as dressing in layers with scarves, loose blouses and jackets so you can keep warm. Make sure to wear soft, comfy socks as well, as a lot of body heat can escape through your feet.

Your cancer team can give you advice and recommendations on the most comfortable clothes to wear whilst undergoing cancer treatment, which can make a huge difference in making each session more comfortable.

Give Yourself Recovery Time At First

Fatigue affects people being treated with radiotherapy in very different ways, and it is essential to listen and be kind to your body, as there may be days when you leave the clinic full of energy and others when you want to go to bed.

If you have travelled internationally for treatment and hope to explore your locale, make sure to account for breaks and times when the best course of action for your treatment is to recuperate in your hotel room.

As the treatment progresses, you will have a better idea of how your body will feel, but give yourself the space and opportunity to listen to your body.

Do not overcommit when it comes to work or making plans that might require a lot of energy; resting and recuperating are vital parts of the treatment and that should never be underestimated.

You Can Ask For Help With Anything

The primary treatment is radiotherapy, but everything else is a vital part of the healing process, from physiotherapy to mental health.

Everyone in your cancer team, from the nurses to the radiographers, is there to help you with anything and answer any questions, so if you have any concerns, thoughts or queries, please let one of them know right away.

cancer treatment radiotherapy - Doctor consulting male patient

The Three Most Important Questions To Ask Before Treatment

The initial steps following a diagnosis of cancer can be quite disconcerting, and it is understandable to feel confused and worried in that space between receiving the confirmation through a series of tests and examinations and your first session of radiotherapy.

At our international cancer care centre, you will be taken care of by a team of specialists, all of whom will be able to provide specific treatments and specialist advice in their fields of expertise, as well as work together to provide a comprehensive treatment plan.

As we have a major focus on patient-centred care, your needs will be at the heart of every care decision we make, and we will be happy to answer any questions and discuss any aspect of treatment you need. Ultimately, the decision to start radiotherapy or chemotherapy is yours to take.

Before you do, we have three simple but broad questions we recommend that you ask your multidisciplinary cancer team in order to provide greater insight and understanding of your treatment and ensure that the team’s recommendations align with your treatment goals as a patient.

What Is The Ultimate Goal Of Treatment?

Because there are so many types of cancer, there are a lot of different types of treatment, each of which can vary depending on the stage of cancer, the overall health of the person, how aggressive the cancer is and many other aspects.

However, one question to ask about every part of your treatment is what the goal of the particular intervention is.

On a broad level, the goal of treatment is typically to remove the cancer or reduce it to a level where it can no longer be found in the body, but this may not always be the case.

Sometimes, radiotherapy is used as an adjunctive treatment to help shrink a tumour to make surgery more viable and shorten long-term recovery; in other cases, it is used with chemotherapy to make both more effective, and in some cases, it is used to ensure the last remnants of cancer cells are destroyed and thus cannot grow back.

In other cases, the goal of radiotherapy is to relieve pain, particularly in cases where a particular tumour might be inoperable. Sometimes shrinking a tumour can be enough, at least in the short term, to relieve symptoms before alternative steps of treatment can be considered.

As suggested above, every treatment intervention will have a specific purpose that helps forward an overall goal, and asking what each part of the treatment does will aid in understanding what will happen in the future.

What Are The Effects Of Treatment And How Will They be Managed?

Depending on when a cancer is diagnosed, the treatment may be somewhat aggressive, which can lead to some additional symptoms that it is important to understand ahead of time.

Not every cancer treatment will have side effects; if a tumour is caught quickly enough and is eliminated through a short course of radiotherapy, you may barely notice the treatments at all.

In other cases, as cancer treatment typically relies on the body’s ability to regenerate and recover, symptoms such as fatigue, aches and pains are not uncommon, and other types of treatment will have specific symptoms that may need to be managed as part of your complete package of care.

This is why a cancer team consists of specialists from all aspects of the medical profession, from radiologists to physiotherapists.

They will help ensure that treatment is as minimally invasive as possible, has as few side effects as possible and will help ensure that your mental and physical health is at the best possible level to encourage the best possible outcomes.

Asking about these interventions will help to tailor your treatment plan around your needs and ensure that your stay at our cancer clinic will provide you with the best possible care.

Why Choose Radiotherapy And What Are The Alternatives?

This is technically two different questions, but they both focus on the same fundamental point; why did the cancer team come to the conclusion that the treatment they suggested is the most effective treatment for someone in the long term?

In many cases, the best way to ask this question is to ask about alternative treatments as well. Many cancers can be treated in multiple ways depending on the stage of treatment and the expected outcome.

There are various considerations made and weighted differently, and knowing what alternatives are available will give you the chance to make an informed decision that puts your needs at the forefront of your care, where they belong.