Radiotherapy for Children, Teenagers and Young Adults

What is Radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy is usually given 5 days a week (Monday to Friday). The number of treatments will depend on the doctor’s recommendation. The therapeutic radiographers will accurately position you on the treatment couch. This will be the same position which you laid down in for your planning CT scan.

We’ll explain everything clearly to both you and your child, and we will provide age-appropriate explanations and information.

Why does my child need Radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy can be used alone or with other treatments like surgery or chemotherapy. It might shrink a tumour, prevent cancer from returning, or help with symptoms. The team will explain why radiotherapy is the right choice for your child, and you will meet with a consultant to ask any questions.

Treatment pathway

Each person’s radiotherapy treatment is made just for them. To plan your child’s radiotherapy, they will follow the steps listed below. Some steps might not apply to your child, depending on the treatment area. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to talk to someone on the paediatric radiotherapy team.

Before treatment starts, we will arrange a meeting with our team, including the doctor. This meeting will help your child get familiar with the department and meet the nurses, play team, and radiographers. During the meeting, the doctor will explain your child’s diagnosis, why radiotherapy is needed, and go over the treatment plan. You’ll have a chance to ask any questions about the treatment, side effects, and what to expect.

Your child might need to wear a special mask over their head and/or shoulders during radiotherapy. This mask helps them stay still so the treatment is as precise and effective as possible. We know this might seem a bit overwhelming at first, so we offer preparation sessions to help your child feel more at ease.

Before treatment starts, you and your child can meet with our play team. During this session, we can make a mould of your child’s hand, your hand, or even their favourite toy, like a teddy bear. This gentle introduction helps your child get used to the mask-making process and makes it feel less intimidating. Your child can also choose to have their mask decorated with any design or artwork they like. The resource below explains the procedure in more detail, which you may find useful.

Paediatric radiotherapy mask making procedure

The consultant will schedule a consent meeting with you to talk about your child’s treatment plan. They will discuss the treatment area, the goal of radiotherapy, and go over any possible short- and long-term side effects.

About two weeks before treatment starts, your child will need to have a CT scan. (The timing can vary depending on the type of treatment.) During the scan, small tattoos may be placed on your child’s skin to help ensure the treatment is accurate. These tattoos are tiny, about the size of a freckle, and the number of tattoos will depend on the treatment area. Some children don’t need any, while others may have up to four. If you have any concerns about this, please let a member of the paediatric team know.

As previously mentioned, if your child needs a mask to keep them still during their radiotherapy treatment, they will have a mask made prior to the CT scan and will need to wear the mask for the duration of the CT scan. We do offer the opportunity for your child to have their mask painted any way they would like, for more information on this see the link below.

Painted masks take away children’s fear of radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is typically given in daily sessions, and in some cases, it may be twice a day. The total number of sessions can range from just one to around thirty, spread out over about six weeks. The radiographers will operate the radiotherapy machine and closely monitor your child during treatment. The treatment itself doesn’t hurt, but it’s normal for children to feel nervous. We’ll take time to explain everything in a way they can understand, and you’ll be able to stay involved and support them throughout. Your child’s consultant will determine the best treatment schedule and keep you informed.

It’s important that your child stays very still during the treatment. If needed, our team will help your child stay calm and relaxed. We use play, stories, and practice sessions to prepare them and reduce fear and anxiety. We can talk to your child through an intercom, and they can listen to music using our CD player or iPad. For some children, staying still might require general anaesthesia, which keeps them completely still during the treatment. If this is necessary, we will discuss it with you ahead of time.

What if my child needs general anaesthesia?

Sometimes, especially for young children or those who have trouble staying still, we may need to use general anaesthesia. This helps your child stay completely still and relaxed during treatment. If anaesthesia is needed, a specialist will carefully monitor your child the whole time. The team will talk to you about this option if it’s needed and explain what will happen.

Your child will have weekly reviews with their doctor and sometimes other members of the paediatric team to assess how they are managing treatment and their side effects. During these reviews, your child might also have regular blood tests if the doctor thinks they are needed.

What side effects might there be?

Side effects depend on which part of the body is being treated and how many sessions your child has. Our paediatric radiotherapy team will explain what side effects might happen and how we will manage them. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. We’re here to make sure you and your child feel supported and well-informed every step of the way.

Please note

The Radiotherapy department is open Monday to Friday 8:00am to 6:00pm (excluding bank holidays)

Useful Resources:

Welcome to Paediatric Radiotherapy – LCHTV Gamma Knife Radiotherapy for Children, Teenagers and Young Adults Leaflet – Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Find us

The radiotherapy department is located on level -2 in Bexley Wing at St James’s University Hospital.

If you are travelling by car:

You can park in the multi-storey car park for free by showing the parking attendant your appointment letter when exiting the car park. You can access the Bexley wing on level 0 and take the green lift to level -2 where you will find the radiotherapy department.

If you are travelling using hospital transport:

You will be dropped off on level 0 where you can access the Bexley wing and take the green lift to level -2 where you will find the radiotherapy department.

If you are travelling by public transport:

You can enter the radiotherapy department directly on level -2 from Beckett Street which has a bus stop located directly outside.

The nearest train station is Leeds station which is located 2 miles away and there are buses which can take you directly to St James’s University Hospital.