Radiotherapy is a major component of cancer treatment.

Pioneers in Precision Radiotherapy.

We are the first Cancer Hospital in Kathmandu which started modern precision radiotherapy in 2015 AD with CT simulators and Linear Accelerator. All techniques of radiation therapy like 3D-CRT, IMRT, VMAT, Electron therapy, Image Guided Brachytherapy (IGBT), Interstitial Brachytherapy, Total Body Radiotherapy(TBI) , Total skin electron therapy (TSET) are available in our center.

External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT)

External beam therapy (EBRT) is a method for delivering tightly targeted high-energy x-ray or electron beams to a patient's tumor from outside the body. Beams are usually generated by a linear accelerator(LINAC)  and targeted to destroy cancer cells while sparing surrounding normal tissues. Treatment is typically given daily, Sunday through Thursday, 5 days a week, on an outpatient basis over a few weeks. However, treatment is tailored to the patient’s individual needs, so some may need to go more or less often. Megavoltage photons are used to treat more deep-seated cancers, Electron beams are used for treating skin cancer and cancers seated in superficial tissues. Linear Accelerator or Linac is commonly used to deliver external beam radiation treatments (EBRT) to cancer patients. A linear accelerator is programmed to deliver high-energy X-rays that conform to the specific size, shape, and location of a tumor. In this way, the LINAC can target and destroy cancerous cells in a very precise area of a patient’s body with minimal exposure to the surrounding healthy tissue.
The Radiation Oncology department is equipped with triple energy high dose rate digital linear accelerator (LINAC) from Elekta Medical System, UK.
External beam radiation therapy can be delivered by various modalities/techniques such as:

Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D CRT)  – 3D CRT is one of the common types of external beam radiation therapy. The images from CT scans in the treatment position (CT-Simulation) with proper immobilization are helpful in precisely planning the treatment area. Later, these images are analyzed by a computer called Treatment Planning System(TPS), and the radiation beam is designed that conforms to the shape of the tumor from many directions. The exact shape of the tumor is important to deliver high doses of radiation to the tumor tissue while sparing the normal tissue.


Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT): Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is highly sophisticated precision radiotherapy that uses computer-controlled linear accelerators. IMRT allows precise radiation dose the tumor by modulating the intensity of radiation, in multiple small beamlets, to match the 3D shape of the tumor concurrently sparing the normal tissues nearby. With IMRT, dose painting technique is possible i.e., selective delivery of high dose radiation to the high-risk areas and less dose to the low-risk areas into the tumor mass.
IMRT is used for the treatment of many solid cancers such as head and neck cancer, brain cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, uterine cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, breast cancer, and others specifically where there are critical structures nearby and preserving them is a priority.

Volumetric Arc Therapy (VMAT): It’s a special type of IMRT technique. The Linear accelerator rotates around the patient while administering radiation in an arc shape, along with the modulating intensity of the radiation beam as it moves around the body. It offers enhanced clinical outcomes compared to IMRT with reduced treatment time.

DIBH Technique: Deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) is a radiation therapy technique where patients are asked to take a deep breath and hold it while they are being administered radiation therapy. This expands the lungs to almost full and moves the heart away. DIBH is specifically useful in cases where radiation therapy has to be given in the chest region minimizing radiation dose to the heart. DIBH in radiation therapy is useful for: 

1. Left-sided breast cancer 
2. Lymphoma in the chest region 
3. Other tumors in the chest or upper abdomen region

At Kathmandu Cancer Center (KCC), we have the facility of vDIBH technique for left-sided breast cancer, where we can deliver high precision radiotherapy targeting the tumor with the least possible dose to the heart and lungs.
Electron Therapy: Electron beam therapy is used to treat superficial/ skin lesions in the body. Because of the finite range of the electron beam, it won’t go deep inside the body. Therefore, the radiation dose to the deeper normal tissue is minimal.
At Kathmandu Cancer Center (KCC), we have the facility of electron beam therapy with 6 multiple energies. We make custom alloy cutouts to precisely deliver electrons.

Total Body Irradiation (TBI): Radiation therapy when given to the whole body is called total body irradiation or TBI. Total Body Irradiation (TBI) is especially used in blood cancer and other blood-related diseases. Total Body Irradiation (TBI) is used for the treatment of where bone marrow transplant is planned like Leukaemia in adults and childhood such as Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), Aplastic anemia, etc
At Kathmandu Cancer Center (KCC), we have the facility of TBI and we have already done more than 40 total body irradiation. We are the only center in Nepal that is providing this service,

Total Skin Electron Therapy (TSET): Electron beam therapy when given to the whole skin is called total skin electron therapy (TSET). TSET is used for the treatment of skin lesions such as mycosis fungoides, a type of skin cancer that usually involves the whole body. Kathmandu Cancer Center (KCC) is the pioneer in starting TSET in the country. We are equipped with all the necessary accessories for TSET deliveryand till now we have treated  3 patients with TSET.