Radiotherapy for children with a brain tumour

Your child’s radiotherapy treatment is very carefully planned by a team of medical specialists to ensure that it reaches as many tumour cells as possible, whilst avoiding as much healthy tissue as possible.

First a ‘radiotherapy planning scan’ will be taken. This is usually a CT scan, but sometimes an MRI scan. The scan creates a 3D image of your child’s tumour, showing its shape and location in the brain. This image and measurements from the scan allow more precise planning of where the radiotherapy needs to be targeted, the dose required and how often it needs to be given.

It is important that your child lies very still during treatment, so that the radiotherapy is directed to the correct part of the brain. To help your child stay still, a treatment mask is made specifically to fit your child’s face and head. This mask fixes to the treatment couch to keep their head still and in the same place each time they have treatment.

There are different types of masks, made from different materials. They are made by smoothing the warmed material onto your child’s face, so that the final mask is an exact replication of the size and shape of their head. Gaps are left for the eyes, nose and mouth, so your child is always able to breathe easily.

A play therapist may work with your child to make wearing the mask less daunting.

Your child’s treatment is planned to suit their individual needs, so may be very different to the treatment of other children you may meet.

If your child is very young or extremely anxious and won’t keep still, a short general anaesthetic may be given. Or a health play specialist may work with your child to keep them calm and still.

• Your child will lie on the radiotherapy bed with the radiotherapy machine above them
• Medical staff will place the mask over your child’s head and attach it to the bed, taking some time to position them.
• Before the radiotherapy machine is switched on, the staff will leave the room, but remain nearby. They will be able to see, hear and speak to your child, should they need them.
• Your child won’t be able to see or feel the radiotherapy beams nor feel any heat from it. They will be able to hear the machine.
• Once the treatment session, called a ‘fraction’ is finished, medical staff will go back into the room, remove the mask and help your child off the bed.
• The medial staff will keep your child’s mask until the next treatment session.

How long will treatment take?

Treatment times will vary, depending on your child’s individual treatment plan.

However, each treatment session (fraction) generally only lasts a few minutes. The treatment appointment will be considerably longer, due to the time taken to position your child in the correct place. If you child is having radiotherapy to their spine, this can also take longer.

A typical radiotherapy plan is once a day, Monday to Friday, with a break at the weekends.

It is common for your child to have radiotherapy for 4 to 6 weeks.

Your child’s health team can tell you your child’s exact treatment plan.

If your child is having radiotherapy as an outpatient, they will be able to go home after each session. If they need to remain in hospital for another treatment, a nurse will take them back to their ward.

Your child will NOT be radioactive after treatment. It is safe for them to be around people, including other children.

After the whole course of treatment, your child will have regular check-ups to monitor the effects of the radiotherapy on the tumour and any side-effects you child may get.