Importance of Radiation Oncology

Radiotherapy is a cost effective efficient treatment mode for cancer and a valuable option in palliative care, to relieve pain and discomfort. The most commonly occurring cancers in Indigenous population (cancer of lip/mouth/pharynx, lung, oesophagus, pancreas, cervix and uterus²²) respond positively to radiotherapy treatment.

Radiotherapy treatments can also be used effectively for symptom control, such as pain management. Considering the amount of late-stage disease in many Indigenous patients, radiotherapy can make a valuable contribution in the palliative setting¹⁷. It is understood, that issues around the late diagnosis need to be addressed separately, as cancer treatments have the best curative effect in early stages of cancer.