Concierge oncology · UK
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy, planned by a consultant clinical oncologist.
IMRT and VMAT are the UK RCR-IPEM standard for curative radiotherapy — a highly conformal dose that wraps around the target while sparing the organs around it. We arrange it with a named oncologist, at the right centre for your case.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A named consultant clinical oncologist
Not a rotating registrar and not an anonymous department. A named oncologist plans your case, signs off the dose and follows your recovery.
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Modern IMRT/VMAT as standard
Every plan uses inverse-planned IMRT or VMAT with daily image guidance — the UK RCR-IPEM standard, not older 3D-CRT.
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Independent, and free
We are paid by no radiotherapy centre, so the recommendation between IMRT, SBRT, proton or MR-linac is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a private IMRT/VMAT course costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner centres. Radiotherapy is almost always covered by UK health insurance when medically indicated — we confirm the figure and the cover before you commit.
In short
A private hypofractionated prostate IMRT course: £18,000–£28,000, delivered over four weeks.
| Course / consultation | Indicative range | Typical duration | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consultation with a clinical oncologist | £300–£500 | 45 min | Same visit |
| IMRT — prostate (20 fractions, hypofx) | £18,000–£28,000 | 4 weeks daily | Course |
| IMRT — head & neck (30–35 fractions) | £28,000–£45,000 | 6–7 weeks daily | Course |
| IMRT — breast (15 fractions, hypofx) | £10,000–£18,000 | 3 weeks daily | Course |
| SBRT — prostate (5 fractions) | £15,000–£25,000 | 1–2 weeks alt days | Course |
| SBRT — lung / oligomets (3–8 fractions) | £12,000–£22,000 | 1–2 weeks alt days | Course |
| MR-linac adaptive (per course) | £25,000–£45,000 | Varies by site | Course |
| Proton beam therapy (per course) | £30,000–£90,000 | 4–7 weeks daily | Course |
Prices vary by centre (Cromwell, HCA, GenesisCare, Rutherford), by the technique (IMRT vs SBRT vs MR-linac vs proton), by fractionation, and by any concurrent systemic therapy. Most NHS patients are treated in a local unit and do not pay — specialist SBRT and proton referrals go via NHS-commissioned centres.
The problem
The right technique, the right centre, the right fractionation.
Modern radiotherapy has three quiet decisions inside it — technique, centre, and fractionation. All three shape the toxicity you live with for years. We work them through with you before consent.
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IMRT, SBRT, MR-linac or proton?
Each has a place. We say honestly which one your diagnosis and anatomy point to — and where a proton referral is genuinely worth pursuing.
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Standard, hypofractionated or SBRT?
Fewer, higher-dose fractions are as good or better in many indications. Not all — the oncologist walks you through the evidence.
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Which UK centre?
A named consultant clinical oncologist at a centre with modern linacs, daily IGRT, and access to onward SBRT, MR-linac and proton pathways.
The journey
From enquiry to follow-up — what happens, in order.
One named oncologist from first message to response scan — including the on-treatment reviews.
Phase 1 · Before treatment
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On treatment
Daily, for one to seven weeks
Phase 3 · After
Recovery, response, surveillance
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Diagnosis, staging so far, any biopsies or scans, and what has already been discussed.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: which centre, which technique (IMRT, VMAT, SBRT, MR-linac or proton), and an indicative fractionation and cost.
- 03
Before
Planning CT and mask/immobilisation
A planning CT — sometimes with fusion MRI or PET — plus a mask (head and neck) or vac-bag (body). The oncologist then contours the target and organs at risk.
- 04
On treatment
Daily treatment on the linac
Cone-beam CT verification, then a 60–120 second VMAT delivery. Most days you are on the couch for under 15 minutes.
- 05
On treatment
On-treatment reviews
Weekly review with your oncologist and radiographers. Skin, mucosa, bowel and bladder toxicity are managed as they emerge.
- 06
After
Immediate post-treatment recovery
Acute side-effects (fatigue, skin, mucositis) peak in the two weeks after finishing and settle over four to six weeks.
- 07
After
Follow-up and surveillance
Response scans at three months, then structured surveillance — usually shared between your oncologist, surgeon and GP.
Typical planning-to-treatment interval: 1–2 weeks. Full course: 1–7 weeks depending on fractionation.
When it helps
The cancers we treat with IMRT and VMAT.
The UK NHS-standard indications, plus the one red flag that means an emergency rather than an appointment.
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Prostate cancer
Curative IMRT/VMAT at 60–78 Gy, 62 Gy in 20 fractions (CHHiP/PROFIT), or SBRT at 36.25 Gy in 5 fractions.
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Head and neck cancer
Parotid-sparing IMRT is standard — the technique that meaningfully reduces long-term xerostomia.
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Breast cancer
Whole-breast, partial-breast, chest-wall and nodal irradiation — 15 fractions or 5-fraction FAST-Forward.
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Lung cancer (NSCLC, SBRT)
SBRT/SABR for peripheral T1 stage tumours where surgery is not chosen or not possible.
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Brain — glioma, meningioma, mets
Fractionated IMRT for gliomas and meningiomas; SRS for oligometastatic disease.
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Gynaecological — cervix, endometrium
Pelvic (plus para-aortic when indicated) IMRT with a brachytherapy boost for cervical cancer.
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Anal, pancreatic and sarcoma
Chemoradiation for anal cancer; adjuvant, neoadjuvant or SBRT for pancreatic disease; IMRT for soft-tissue sarcoma.
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Red flag: cord compression, SVCO
New leg weakness, saddle numbness, or facial/arm swelling with breathlessness is an emergency — A&E, not a clinic booking.
Technique options
IMRT is a family — not a single technique.
What each delivery option actually involves — and which fits which indication.
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Static-gantry IMRT
Classic inverse-planned IMRT — 5 to 9 fixed beam angles, MLC modulating fluence. Robust, well-validated, still the workhorse.
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VMAT (RapidArc, Elekta VMAT)
Continuous rotating gantry — usually two arcs — delivering the whole treatment in 60–120 seconds. More efficient, better conformity for most sites.
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SBRT / SABR
Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy — 3 to 8 fractions at high dose per fraction, sub-mm accuracy. Prostate, lung, oligomets, pancreas.
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IGRT (image-guided)
Daily cone-beam CT verification — the standard adjunct to IMRT that lets the margin around the target shrink safely.
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MR-linac (Elekta Unity, MRIdian)
Real-time MR-guided adaptive radiotherapy — the plan is recalculated on the machine each day against the anatomy on that day.
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Proton beam therapy
NHS-commissioned at Christie Manchester and UCLH — children, chordoma, base-of-skull, re-irradiation and select adults where sparing OARs matters most.
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Adaptive IMRT (Ethos)
Plan-of-the-day adaptive replanning — used where anatomy shifts meaningfully between fractions (bladder, cervix, some head and neck).
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Conventional fractionation
25 to 40 daily fractions at 1.8–2.0 Gy each — still the right choice in some head and neck, brain and gynaecological indications.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of clinical oncologists, we picked them.
Consultant clinical oncologists across Cromwell, HCA, GenesisCare and Rutherford centres. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every oncologist in our network.
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Consultant clinical oncologists — RCR-accredited, not trainees
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Modern linacs with daily cone-beam CT and MLC (60–160 leaves)
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Inverse-planned IMRT/VMAT with named treatment planning system (Eclipse, Monaco, RayStation)
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Onward routes to SBRT, MR-linac and proton centres discussed before the plan is signed off
Safety and recovery
What to expect — honestly, acute and late.
IMRT reduces toxicity meaningfully versus older 3D-CRT — but it does not eliminate it. Acute effects show during and just after treatment; late effects unfold over months and years. Both matter, and both are discussed before you consent.
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Fatigue is universal
A cumulative tiredness that peaks in the last week of treatment and settles over four to six weeks. Not a sign anything is going wrong.
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Skin reactions are expected
Erythema, dry or moist desquamation in the treated field. Managed with the department’s skin protocol — usually simple emollients and, when needed, hydrocortisone.
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Site-specific mucositis
Head and neck: mouth ulceration, dysphagia, altered taste. Chest: oesophagitis. Pelvis: proctitis, cystitis, diarrhoea — all managed proactively.
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Xerostomia is reduced but not eliminated
Parotid-sparing IMRT meaningfully lowers long-term dry mouth versus older 3D-CRT — but some reduction in saliva is common.
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Late effects unfold over months to years
Fibrosis, lymphoedema, cardiac effect (breast — reduced by DIBH), pulmonary fibrosis (chest) and chronic bone-marrow effect (pelvic). Discussed and consented up front.
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Prostate — urinary and bowel
Long-term urinary and bowel toxicity is the main trade-off. A hydrogel perirectal spacer can reduce the rectal dose in the right patient.
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Radiation-induced second malignancy
Rare, decades later, and one of the reasons proton therapy is preferred in children and some young adults where an equivalent plan is possible.
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Fertility and gonadal shielding
Discussed before treatment. Sperm banking, ovarian shielding or transposition, and fertility preservation routes are arranged where relevant.
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Red flags during treatment
New severe pain, uncontrolled bleeding, breathlessness, spreading redness, fever or new neurological signs — call the on-treatment team the same day.
Reading your radiotherapy plan
Your treatment plan in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever technique was used, the summary the oncologist sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Dose-volume language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the plan before you sign consent, just ask.
- 01 Header
Diagnosis, stage and intent
Tumour site, histology, TNM stage, and whether treatment is curative, adjuvant, neoadjuvant or palliative.
- 02 Technique
Technique, dose and fractionation
IMRT or VMAT, total dose in Gray, number of fractions, energy, and any concurrent systemic therapy.
- 03 Findings
Target volumes and organs at risk
GTV, CTV and PTV volumes contoured, plus the dose-volume constraints met for each organ at risk (parotids, cord, rectum, bladder, heart, lungs).
- 04 Impression
Acute toxicity, follow-up, response scan
Read this first: acute toxicity to expect, when it settles, and when the response scan is scheduled.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for IMRT/VMAT and SBRT is standard on most UK health insurance policies when the treatment is medically indicated. Proton beam therapy is NHS-commissioned; specialist private cover varies. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about IMRT and VMAT.
Quick answers on technique, fractionation, proton referral routes, and the side-effects that matter most.
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What is IMRT and how is it different from older radiotherapy?
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy uses a linear accelerator with a multi-leaf collimator (60–160 leaves) to modulate the intensity of the beam across multiple angles. An inverse-planned treatment planning system — Eclipse, Monaco or RayStation — calculates a highly conformal dose that wraps around the target while sparing organs at risk. It is a meaningful step up from older 3D-CRT for most curative solid-tumour indications.
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What is VMAT, and is it better than IMRT?
VMAT — Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (RapidArc on Varian, VMAT on Elekta) — is IMRT delivered on a continuously rotating gantry, usually as two arcs. Each treatment takes 60 to 120 seconds instead of several minutes. For most sites it gives equivalent or better conformity in less time. It is the default modern IMRT delivery.
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Which cancers is IMRT used for on the NHS?
IMRT/VMAT is the UK NHS standard of care for most curative solid-tumour radiotherapy — head and neck, prostate, breast, lung (including SBRT), brain, cervical and endometrial, anal (chemoradiation), pancreatic, and sarcoma. Paediatric cases are often referred for proton beam therapy where available.
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How many sessions of IMRT will I need?
It depends on the site and intent. Conventional courses are 25 to 40 daily fractions. Moderately hypofractionated courses (prostate CHHiP/PROFIT at 62 Gy in 20 fractions, breast at 15 fractions) are shorter. SBRT is 3 to 8 high-dose fractions. Ultra-hypofractionated courses (FAST-Forward breast, 5-fraction prostate SBRT) can complete in a week.
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What is SBRT and is it the same as IMRT?
SBRT/SABR is stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy — a specific IMRT technique that delivers very high doses per fraction in 3 to 8 sessions with sub-mm accuracy. It is used for peripheral early-stage lung cancer, prostate cancer, oligometastatic disease, and emerging pancreatic indications.
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Is proton beam therapy better than IMRT?
Not universally. Protons deposit dose at a defined depth (the Bragg peak) with almost no exit dose — useful where sparing a specific organ matters most: children, chordoma, base-of-skull tumours, re-irradiation and selected adult cases. For most adult solid tumours, IMRT/VMAT with daily IGRT gives equivalent tumour control. NHS-commissioned proton therapy is delivered at The Christie (Manchester) and UCLH.
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What is an MR-linac and when is it used?
An MR-linac (Elekta Unity, ViewRay MRIdian) combines an MRI scanner with a linear accelerator, allowing the plan to be adapted on the day against the anatomy actually visible on that day’s MRI. It is used where the target moves or the surrounding anatomy shifts meaningfully — pancreas, some prostate, liver, some gynaecological cases.
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What side-effects should I expect from IMRT?
Acute effects (during treatment and the fortnight after) include fatigue, skin erythema, and site-specific mucositis — mouth ulcers in head and neck, oesophagitis in chest, proctitis or cystitis in pelvic treatment. Late effects (months to years) can include fibrosis, xerostomia, lymphoedema, cardiac effect (breast — reduced by DIBH), pulmonary fibrosis (chest) and chronic marrow effect (pelvic). The oncologist walks you through the site-specific profile before you consent.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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Image-guided radiation therapy
Daily cone-beam CT verification — the standard adjunct to IMRT.
Learn more -
Intraoperative radiation therapy
Single-fraction radiotherapy delivered during surgery.
Learn more -
Hydrogel perirectal spacer
Reduces rectal dose during prostate radiotherapy.
Learn more -
All tests and procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more
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