Teenage and Young Adult Radiotherapy Services

Our Service

Nottingham’s radiotherapy service is based at Nottingham City Hospital and is linked with local oncology teams including Nottingham (QMC), Leicester, Derby, Northampton and Lincoln. Our service provides care for a wide range of patient groups including the Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) service, which offers support for patients aged 18-25 requiring radiotherapy treatment. Our TYA service is interlinked with the paediatric service, with 13-17 year olds cared for within this group.

Radiotherapy isn’t a part of all cancer treatment pathways; however, it can be used in conjunction with chemotherapy/immunotherapy or as a stand-alone treatment to treat cancer (radical treatment) or manage symptoms (palliative treatment). Radiotherapy can range from a single treatment up to 6 weeks of treatment and is typically delivered as an out-patient service. In-patient radiotherapy services are also possible at Nottingham City Hospital, as we work closely with the TYA unit on Hogarth Ward. Aim, length and expected side-effects of treatment will be discussed with you in a consultation prior to treatment planning procedures.

Where standard radiotherapy using photons is provided locally, your oncology team may suggest that an alternative form of radiotherapy called Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) could be more suitable for you. If relevant, this will be discussed in detail with you as travel to one of two UK PBT centres in Manchester or London would be required (see links below for information regarding PBT).

Radiotherapy Information

We have CT scanners to facilitate radiotherapy planning and multiple treatment machines called linear accelerators across two sites at City Hospital – Radiotherapy North (Nottingham Radiotherapy Centre) and Radiotherapy South. You will be provided with a permit which enables you to park without charge in a carpark directly in front of Radiotherapy North and further carparks such as Purple and Yellow – there is also blue badge parking throughout the hospital grounds. If you require hospital transport or financial support to attend appointments, please discuss this with the radiotherapy team.

CT Machine LINAC

An essential part to radiotherapy is keeping still as the treatment is incredibly precise, therefore you may need to visit our mould room (situated in Radiotherapy North) to have an immobilisation mask or cast made to help you maintain and reproduce your position. This will be done at a planning appointment, where you will also have a CT scan which helps the doctors to outline/plan your radiotherapy treatment. Immobilisation masks can be decorated in a design you’d like by the radiotherapy team.

Your planning scan may also involve small dots called radiotherapy tattoos being made on your skin at certain reference points – these are no bigger than a freckle and feel like a small, sharp scratch when made. You can ask more about these during radiotherapy consultations.

Following a planning CT scan, it can take up to 2-3 weeks for treatment to be ready due to a complicated planning process. You may be given a provisional start date at your planning appointment and/or will be contacted closer to the time when treatment is ready.

When attending for treatment, there are Bluetooth speakers in the room that you’re welcome to connect your own device to so you can listen to preferred music/podcasts. Alternatively, you can ask the treatment team to play something that you enjoy. There is also a family room that can be used as a private space to wait for treatment if you’d prefer not to sit in main wait.

waiting area