✦ ONCOLOGY · RADIATION

Radiation Therapy

Q: What are the side effects of pelvic radiation?

Short-term: diarrhoea, fatigue, skin irritation, and urinary frequency during treatment weeks. Long-term: altered bowel habit in some patients.

Q: Why is radiation given before surgery for rectal cancer?

Pre-operative chemoradiation shrinks the tumour, reduces local recurrence from 25–30% to under 5%, and increases sphincter preservation rates.

Q: Is short-course radiotherapy (1 week) as effective as long-course (5 weeks)?

Multiple trials confirm equivalent long-term oncological outcomes between SCRT and long-course chemoradiation for most rectal cancers.

Targeted high-energy radiation — shrinks tumours before surgery and reduces local recurrence in rectal cancer.

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What is Radiation Therapy?

Radiation therapy uses precisely targeted high-energy beams to damage cancer cell DNA and induce tumour shrinkage. In rectal cancer, pre-operative chemoradiation (5 weeks) or short-course radiotherapy (1 week) is delivered before surgery to downstage locally advanced tumours. Dr. Tagore Mohan Grandhi coordinates radiation therapy within the multidisciplinary team. Pre-operative chemoradiation increases the chance of sphincter preservation, reduces local recurrence, and, in complete responders, enables watch-and-wait management.

Suitable for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (T3/T4 or node-positive), with margin-threatened tumours benefiting from downstaging before surgery, or complete responders allowing organ preservation.

How the Procedure Works

Radiation Planning (Simulation)

CT planning scan maps the tumour and surrounding structures. Radiation dose planned to maximise tumour dose while protecting adjacent organs.

Pre-treatment Preparation

Tattoo marks placed on the skin for daily alignment. Bladder filling protocol followed to minimise bowel radiation exposure.

Radiation Delivery

Daily sessions Monday–Friday for 5 weeks (long-course) or 5 sessions over 1 week (short-course SCRT). Each session lasts 10–15 minutes.

Response Assessment

Pelvic MRI at 8–12 weeks assesses tumour response. Complete responders may be offered watch-and-wait. Others proceed to surgical resection.

MDT Review

All responses reviewed at MDT. Surgical planning based on imaging response and clinical examination findings.

Outcomes

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Who Needs This Treatment?

→Shrinks the tumour — improving surgical resectability and sphincter preservation
→Reduces local recurrence from 25–30% to under 5% combined with TME
→Short-course (1 week) delivers equivalent results with less patient inconvenience
→Complete responders may achieve organ preservation with watch-and-wait

Neo-adjuvant radiation for rectal cancer transforms outcomes — better sphincter preservation, lower local recurrence, and for some patients, no surgery needed at all. We use it precisely and purposefully.

— Dr. Tagore Mohan Grandhi, Senior Consultant Gastrointestinal Surgeon, Lux Hospitals, Hyderabad

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the side effects of pelvic radiation?+

Why is radiation given before surgery for rectal cancer?+

Is short-course radiotherapy (1 week) as effective as long-course (5 weeks)?+

Not sure which treatment is right for you?

Book a consultation with Dr. Tagore Grandhi and get a personalised treatment plan.

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