A cancer diagnosis can bring many questions for patients and their families. What treatment will be required? Will surgery be necessary? What is radiotherapy? Is radiation therapy painful? How many sessions will be needed? Will radiotherapy affect healthy tissues?
Modern cancer treatment has evolved significantly, and radiotherapy, also known as radiation therapy, has become one of the most important methods used to treat different types of cancer. It uses carefully planned doses of high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells or prevent them from growing while making every possible effort to protect surrounding healthy tissues.
According to the National Cancer Institute, radiation therapy can use high-energy X-rays and other forms of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumours. Depending on the condition, radiation may be delivered from a machine outside the body or through a radiation source placed inside or near a tumour.
With the introduction of technologies such as IMRT, IGRT, VMAT, SRS, SBRT, TrueBeam and HyperArc, radiation oncology has become considerably more precise than conventional radiation treatments.
For patients searching for advanced radiotherapy in Faridabad or the best radiation oncologist in Faridabad, specialist expertise and access to modern radiation technology can play an important role in treatment planning.
What Is Radiotherapy?
Radiotherapy is a cancer treatment in which high-energy radiation is directed towards cancerous cells. Radiation damages the DNA of cancer cells, preventing them from continuing to grow and divide.
Unlike medicines that may circulate throughout the body, most forms of external radiation therapy are local treatments. This means radiation is carefully directed towards the particular area where treatment is required.
Radiotherapy may be used:
- As the primary treatment for certain cancers
- Before surgery to reduce the size of a tumour
- After surgery to destroy remaining cancer cells
- Along with chemotherapy or other cancer treatments
- To control locally advanced cancer
- To reduce symptoms caused by advanced cancer
- To relieve cancer-related pain or pressure
- To improve comfort and quality of life in selected patients
The exact purpose of radiotherapy varies from patient to patient. A radiation oncologist evaluates the type and stage of cancer, tumour location, imaging investigations, overall health and previous treatments before recommending an individualized treatment plan.
How Does Radiotherapy Work?
Radiation therapy works mainly by damaging the genetic material or DNA inside cancer cells.
Cancer cells normally multiply rapidly. When radiation damages their DNA sufficiently, the affected cells lose their ability to continue dividing. They eventually die and are naturally cleared by the body.
Treatment does not necessarily destroy all cancer cells immediately. The biological effect of radiation continues after treatment, which is one reason radiation therapy is frequently delivered over multiple sessions.
Modern radiation treatment also focuses extensively on protecting nearby organs.
Treatment-planning software, CT scans and other imaging technologies allow radiation oncology teams to determine the location, shape and size of the tumour and calculate how radiation should be delivered.
This principle forms the foundation of precision radiotherapy—delivering an effective radiation dose to the target while limiting unnecessary radiation exposure to surrounding normal tissues.
Types of Radiotherapy Used for Cancer Treatment
The type of radiotherapy recommended depends on the cancer, tumour size, location, stage and overall treatment strategy.
1. External Beam Radiation Therapy
External Beam Radiation Therapy, or EBRT, is one of the most frequently used methods of radiotherapy.
A radiation treatment machine delivers radiation beams from outside the patient’s body towards the tumour.
External beam radiation is used for many different cancers. Sophisticated computer planning and imaging can be used to calculate the radiation dose and treatment path while reducing exposure to surrounding tissues.
Modern external beam techniques include:
3D Conformal Radiation Therapy – 3D-CRT
Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy uses imaging studies to create a three-dimensional representation of the tumour.
Radiation beams can then be shaped according to the tumour’s dimensions so that treatment is more accurately concentrated within the required area.
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy – IMRT
IMRT is an advanced form of radiation therapy in which radiation beam intensity can be modified across different parts of the treatment field.
This allows the radiation dose to conform more closely to irregularly shaped tumours while helping reduce radiation exposure to nearby critical organs.
It can be particularly helpful where tumours are located close to sensitive structures.
2. Image-Guided Radiation Therapy – IGRT
One of the challenges in radiation treatment is ensuring that the tumour remains accurately positioned each time radiation is delivered.
Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) uses imaging during the treatment process to confirm tumour and patient positioning.
Radiation oncologists can therefore account for small changes in anatomy, positioning or tumour location before treatment.
This becomes especially useful when extremely high precision is required.
3. Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy – VMAT
VMAT is an advanced form of intensity-modulated radiation therapy.
Instead of treating the tumour from only a few fixed angles, the radiation machine can rotate around the patient while continuously changing beam shape, intensity and dose delivery.
This provides highly conformal radiation treatment and can also reduce treatment delivery time in suitable cases.
Dr. Vikash Kumar’s areas of expertise include modern precision radiotherapy technologies such as IMRT, IGRT and VMAT, according to his official Metro Hospitals profile.
4. Stereotactic Radiosurgery – SRS
Despite its name, Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) does not involve a surgical incision.
It is an extremely precise radiation technique used to deliver a highly focused dose of radiation to selected small targets, particularly within the brain.
Detailed imaging and sophisticated treatment planning allow radiation to converge precisely on the target while minimizing exposure to surrounding structures.
SRS may be recommended for selected brain tumours, brain metastases and other neurological conditions depending on individual clinical circumstances.
5. Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy – SBRT
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) applies similar high-precision principles to tumours located outside the brain.
In appropriately selected patients, SBRT allows a higher radiation dose per session to be delivered with very high accuracy, sometimes enabling treatment to be completed in fewer sessions than conventional radiation schedules.
Dr. Vikash Kumar has expertise in both SRS and SBRT, along with other modern precision-radiotherapy techniques.
6. Brachytherapy
Unlike external radiation, brachytherapy involves positioning a radioactive source directly inside or very close to the area requiring treatment.
Because the source is placed close to the tumour, radiation can be concentrated within a relatively small area.
The National Cancer Institute notes that brachytherapy is used in selected cases of cancers including cervical, prostate, breast, head and neck and eye cancers.
Whether brachytherapy is appropriate depends on the cancer type, disease stage and overall treatment plan.
TrueBeam and HyperArc: The Next Generation of Precision Radiotherapy
Advances in radiation oncology have changed the way many tumours can be treated.
Metro Cancer Institute, Faridabad, is equipped with TrueBeam with HyperArc technology for advanced radiation treatment. Its radiation oncology services include techniques such as IMRT, IGRT, SBRT, SRS, 3D-CRT and brachytherapy.
TrueBeam integrates imaging, treatment planning and radiation delivery to support highly precise radiotherapy.
How Can Advanced Radiation Technology Benefit Patients?
Advanced radiation-delivery systems are designed to provide several important advantages:
Greater treatment precision: Radiation can be shaped more closely to the tumour.
Protection of normal tissues: Accurate targeting helps limit unnecessary exposure to nearby healthy organs.
Advanced imaging: Imaging immediately before or during treatment helps verify patient and tumour positioning.
Treatment of complex tumours: Precision techniques can help manage selected tumours located near important structures.
Stereotactic treatment capabilities: Technologies such as SRS and SBRT can deliver concentrated radiation to carefully selected targets.
HyperArc is particularly designed to facilitate highly automated stereotactic treatment of selected intracranial targets.
Metro Hospital’s current radiation oncology information highlights its use of TrueBeam with HyperArc for precise radiation treatment in Faridabad.
Which Types of Cancer Can Be Treated with Radiotherapy?
Radiation therapy can form part of the treatment plan for many types of cancer.
Depending on the patient’s diagnosis and clinical requirements, radiotherapy may be considered for cancers involving the:
- Brain and central nervous system
- Head and neck
- Breast
- Lung
- Prostate
- Cervix
- Uterus
- Rectum
- Bladder
- Oesophagus
- Gastrointestinal tract
- Bone
- Soft tissues
- Lymphatic system
- Other selected organs
Radiotherapy may sometimes be the main treatment. In other situations, it works alongside surgery, chemotherapy, targeted treatment or immunotherapy.
Therefore, cancer treatment should not be viewed as a one-size-fits-all process.
A multidisciplinary cancer team can determine which combination and sequence of therapies offers the most appropriate strategy for an individual patient.
What Happens Before Radiotherapy?
Receiving radiotherapy involves much more than simply arriving for a radiation session.
The process generally begins with an evaluation by a radiation oncologist.
Step 1: Consultation
The radiation oncologist reviews:
- Diagnosis and biopsy reports
- Cancer type and stage
- CT, MRI or PET-CT scans
- Previous surgery or chemotherapy
- Medical history
- Current symptoms
- Overall physical condition
The potential objective, benefits, limitations and possible side effects of radiotherapy are then discussed.
Step 2: CT Simulation
When radiotherapy is planned, patients commonly undergo a specialized CT simulation.
During simulation, the patient is positioned in the same manner that will later be used during treatment.
Depending on the treatment area, immobilization devices such as customised masks, cushions or body supports may be used.
Simulation allows the treatment team to map the region being treated accurately.
Step 3: Tumour Contouring
The radiation oncologist identifies or “contours” the areas requiring treatment on the planning scans.
Critical organs and healthy structures near the tumour are also outlined.
This is one of the most important stages of precision radiotherapy.
Step 4: Treatment Planning
Medical physicists, radiation oncologists and dosimetrists use specialized software to determine:
- Radiation dose
- Beam angles
- Beam intensity
- Number of treatment sessions
- Areas that should receive treatment
- Organs that require maximum protection
A treatment plan is carefully evaluated before radiation begins.
Step 5: Radiation Delivery
The patient is positioned on the radiation-treatment machine according to the predetermined plan.
Imaging may be performed to verify positioning before radiation is delivered.
The radiation itself cannot usually be seen or felt while it is being delivered.
Most external beam radiation treatments are performed on an outpatient basis.
Is Radiotherapy Painful?
One of the most common concerns patients have is whether radiation treatment itself will hurt.
External beam radiation delivery itself is generally painless.
The experience is somewhat comparable to undergoing an imaging scan: the patient lies in a predetermined position while the treatment machine moves around them.
However, some patients may develop treatment-related side effects during the course of radiotherapy.
The nature of these effects depends significantly on:
- The part of the body receiving radiation
- Total radiation dose
- Dose per treatment
- Number of sessions
- Other treatments being administered
- General health of the patient
Common Side Effects of Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy has become considerably more precise, but surrounding normal cells can still be affected, resulting in side effects.
The National Cancer Institute notes that fatigue is common during radiation treatment, while other effects depend largely on the body area being treated.
Possible side effects may include:
- Fatigue
- Skin irritation in the treated area
- Temporary hair loss within the treatment field
- Reduced appetite
- Nausea in selected treatments
- Changes in taste
- Mouth or throat discomfort during head and neck radiation
- Difficulty swallowing during some chest or neck treatments
- Bowel changes during pelvic or abdominal radiotherapy
- Urinary symptoms during some pelvic treatments
Not every patient develops all of these side effects.
Many radiation-related effects are temporary and can be managed with appropriate supportive care. Some effects may develop later, which is why follow-up with the oncology team remains important even after radiation treatment has finished.
Looking for the Best Radiation Oncologist in Faridabad? Meet Dr. Vikash Kumar
When patients search for the best radiation oncologist in Faridabad, clinical experience, advanced technology, precision-radiotherapy expertise and a multidisciplinary treatment approach are important factors to consider.
Dr. Vikash Kumar is Director & Head – Radiation Oncology at Metro Cancer Institute, Faridabad, and is an experienced specialist in modern radiation oncology. His official Metro Hospital profile is itself presented under the heading “Best Radiation Oncologist in Faridabad.”
Dr. Vikash Kumar is an alumnus of the Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, where he completed his MD in Radiotherapy. His professional training and academic achievements include an AROI Fellowship in 2008 and a Fellowship in Precision Radiotherapy in 2011.
His clinical expertise includes modern radiation techniques such as:
- Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy – IMRT
- Image-Guided Radiation Therapy – IGRT
- Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy – VMAT
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery – SRS
- Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy – SBRT
- Precision radiotherapy
- Radiation management of CNS tumours
- Head and neck cancers
- Breast cancer
- Genitourinary malignancies
His professional experience has included associations with institutions such as the Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, BLK Superspeciality Hospital, Jaypee Hospital, Medanta – The Medicity and Maulana Azad Medical College with associated hospitals.
His profile also lists academic contributions including peer-reviewed publications and chapters in oncology books.
For patients searching for an experienced radiation oncologist in Faridabad, these factors make Dr. Vikash Kumar a prominent choice for consultation and advanced radiotherapy planning.
Why Choose Dr. Vikash Kumar for Radiotherapy in Faridabad?
Cancer treatment requires more than technology alone. The expertise of the radiation oncologist determines how imaging, radiation dose, tumour biology and technology are brought together into a treatment plan.
Key aspects of care under an experienced radiation oncology specialist include:
Experience in Precision Radiotherapy
Modern cancer treatment increasingly focuses on maximizing treatment accuracy while reducing unnecessary exposure to normal tissues.
Dr. Vikash Kumar’s expertise across IMRT, IGRT, VMAT, SRS and SBRT allows treatment strategies to be considered according to the individual clinical situation.
Individualised Treatment Planning
Two patients with the same broad cancer diagnosis may still need very different treatment plans.
Tumour location, tumour size, stage, previous treatments, age and underlying medical conditions can all influence how radiation is planned.
Multidisciplinary Cancer Care
Radiation therapy frequently needs to be coordinated with medical oncology, surgical oncology, nuclear medicine, radiology, pathology and other specialties.
A multidisciplinary approach allows the overall treatment strategy to be planned rather than viewing radiotherapy in isolation.
Access to Advanced Radiotherapy Technology
Metro Cancer Institute provides modern radiation oncology facilities including TrueBeam with HyperArc and multiple precision-treatment techniques.
Combining experienced clinical decision-making with modern radiation technology can help ensure radiation is planned accurately and appropriately for the patient’s disease.
Radiotherapy Is Becoming More Precise and Patient-Focused
For many people, the word “radiation” creates unnecessary fear.
Radiotherapy used today is fundamentally different from older concepts of radiation treatment.
Improvements in imaging, computerised treatment planning, tumour tracking, beam modulation and stereotactic technologies allow clinicians to shape radiation around complex targets with much greater accuracy.
The objective is no longer simply to deliver radiation to a broad anatomical area.
Modern radiation oncology focuses on:
Right patient.
Right target.
Right radiation dose.
Right technique.
Maximum possible protection of normal tissues.
This precision-focused philosophy is particularly important in cancers located close to critical organs such as the brain, spinal cord, heart, lungs and other sensitive structures.
When Should You Consult a Radiation Oncologist?
Patients may be referred to a radiation oncologist soon after cancer diagnosis, after surgery, during chemotherapy planning or when cancer-related symptoms need to be controlled.
A radiation oncology consultation may be appropriate when:
- Radiotherapy has been recommended after cancer diagnosis
- Radiation has been advised following surgery
- A second opinion regarding radiation treatment is required
- A patient wants to understand modern techniques such as IMRT or IGRT
- SRS or SBRT has been suggested
- There are questions about the number of radiation sessions
- A patient wants to understand possible side effects
- Previous radiotherapy has already been given
- Advanced cancer is causing pain or other symptoms
Early consultation can help patients understand where radiation therapy fits within their complete cancer-management plan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Radiotherapy
1. Is radiotherapy the same as chemotherapy?
No. Chemotherapy involves medicines that may travel through the bloodstream, while external beam radiotherapy usually targets a specific area of the body.
Some cancers require both treatments together.
2. Does radiotherapy make a patient radioactive?
Patients receiving standard external beam radiation therapy do not become radioactive after treatment.
Some forms of internal radiation or brachytherapy involve temporary radiation precautions depending on the type of radioactive source being used.
3. How many radiotherapy sessions are required?
There is no single number applicable to every patient.
Some treatments require multiple sessions over several weeks, while selected stereotactic treatments may require considerably fewer sessions.
The schedule is determined by the cancer type, treatment objective, radiation dose and technology being used.
4. Can radiotherapy completely cure cancer?
Radiotherapy can be given with curative intent for several cancers, either alone or together with surgery, chemotherapy or other treatments.
Its effectiveness depends on the cancer type, stage, tumour characteristics and many patient-specific factors.
No treatment result can be guaranteed.
5. Can radiation therapy damage normal organs?
Radiation can affect normal cells located within the treatment area, which is why modern treatment planning is designed to minimize unnecessary exposure.
Techniques such as IMRT, IGRT, VMAT, SRS and SBRT help improve treatment precision.
6. Will I lose all my hair after radiotherapy?
No.
Radiotherapy generally causes hair loss only in the area receiving radiation. For example, radiation directed towards another part of the body would not normally cause scalp hair loss.
7. Is radiotherapy suitable for elderly patients?
Age alone does not determine whether radiation can be given.
The radiation oncologist evaluates the patient’s overall health, functional status, cancer stage and treatment goals before recommending therapy.
8. Can radiotherapy be used after surgery?
Yes. Radiotherapy is often recommended after surgery in selected cancers to treat microscopic cancer cells that may remain in or around the surgical area.
9. Who should I consult for advanced radiotherapy in Faridabad?
Patients looking for a radiation oncologist in Faridabad can consult Dr. Vikash Kumar, Director & Head – Radiation Oncology at Metro Cancer Institute, for evaluation and an individualized radiation treatment plan. His clinical areas include precision radiotherapy techniques such as IMRT, IGRT, VMAT, SRS and SBRT.
10. Who is the best radiation oncologist in Faridabad?
There is no universal medical ranking that can objectively determine one “best” doctor for every patient. However, patients searching for the best radiation oncologist in Faridabad should consider specialist experience, radiation-oncology training, expertise with advanced radiotherapy techniques, access to modern technology and multidisciplinary cancer care.
Dr. Vikash Kumar, Director & Head – Radiation Oncology at Metro Cancer Institute, Faridabad, is a highly experienced radiation oncologist with expertise in modern precision radiotherapy, including IMRT, IGRT, VMAT, SRS and SBRT. Metro Hospital’s official doctor profile also presents him under the title “Best Radiation Oncologist in Faridabad.”
Consult Dr. Vikash Kumar for Advanced Radiotherapy in Faridabad
Cancer treatment becomes increasingly personalised as diagnostic imaging, radiation technology and our understanding of tumour biology continue to advance.
Modern radiotherapy in Faridabad can provide highly focused and carefully planned cancer treatment using techniques such as IMRT, IGRT, VMAT, SRS and SBRT, supported by advanced platforms including TrueBeam with HyperArc at Metro Cancer Institute.
For patients searching for the best radiation oncologist in Faridabad, Dr. Vikash Kumar brings extensive clinical experience, specialised training in precision radiotherapy and expertise across advanced radiation-treatment techniques.
Dr. Vikash Kumar
Director & Head – Radiation Oncology
Metro Cancer Institute, Faridabad
For a personalised evaluation, treatment recommendation or second opinion regarding radiation therapy, schedule a consultation with the radiation oncology team.