Chemoradiation
Also known as: concurrent chemoradiotherapy, CRT
Chemotherapy and radiation given together to make each treatment more effective.
Definition
Chemoradiation (also called concurrent chemoradiotherapy) means giving chemotherapy and radiation at the same time. The chemotherapy makes the cancer cells more sensitive to radiation, so the combination is often more effective than either treatment given alone.
It is a standard approach for several locally advanced cancers, including head & neck, cervical, oesophageal, lung, anal and certain rectal cancers. Side effects can be more intense than with either modality alone, so close monitoring and good supportive care are essential.
See also
- Chemotherapy — Drug treatment that kills cancer cells throughout the body.
- Radiation Therapy — Treatment that uses high-energy beams to destroy cancer cells in a targeted area.
- Neoadjuvant Therapy — Treatment given before the main therapy (usually surgery) to shrink the tumour first.
- Protocol — A standardised plan that specifies the drugs, doses and schedule for a course of cancer treatment.
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Medically reviewed by
Dr. Rehan Abdullah
Dr. Rehan Abdullah is a dual-trained clinical and radiation oncologist with over a decade of experience treating both solid tumours and hematologic malignancies. He serves as Consultant Oncologist at INMOL Hospital and sees patients at Farooq Hospital and Healthnox Medical Center, Lahore. Read full profile →
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