How long does radiotherapy last?

SHORT VERSION

The duration of the entire radiotherapy treatment and the length of each session vary in function of the tumor location and the modality. The number of treatment sessions ranges from one to forty sessions, spread over a period of 1 to 8 weeks, and each session lasts between 10 and 40 minutes (for the most complex techniques, such as stereotactic radiotherapy).

The length of a radiation therapy session depends on the type of technique used. With standard radiotherapy techniques, such as conformal radiotherapy, the session lasts about 10 minutes. This includes the set-up time and the irradiation time. With special techniques, such as stereotactic radiotherapy, a session can last 30 to 40 minutes.

The duration of the entire radiotherapy treatment depends on the indication (e.g. objective sought, tumor location). It can vary from one single session to 40 sessions, for example for prostate tumor radiotherapy.