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Radiation therapy - the right modality, delivered properly.

Photons, protons and brachytherapy - from single-fraction palliation to a full radical VMAT course. A consultant clinical oncologist owns the plan end-to-end, and we say plainly when the fancy modality is not the honest answer.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What private radiotherapy costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our partner radiotherapy centres.

In short

£12,000–£25,000, over 3–7 weeks.

Modality Indicative range
3D conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), full course £6,000–£12,000
IMRT / VMAT, full course £12,000–£25,000
Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) £12,000–£22,000
Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS, single brain lesion) £8,000–£18,000
Proton beam therapy, full course £40,000–£110,000
Brachytherapy (HDR, per insertion) £4,500–£9,000
Clinical oncology consultation only £300–£500

Prices vary by centre, by modality (photons, protons, brachytherapy), by the number of fractions and by whether concurrent chemotherapy or hormone therapy is included. Proton and single-lesion radiosurgery cases sit at the top of the range.

The problem

The right modality, at the right dose, from the right consultant.

Radiotherapy is where private oncology can quietly over-sell - expensive protons where VMAT does the same job, long fractionations where a short one is superior. We fix all three before you consent.

  • Modality on evidence, not marketing

    For paediatric, base-of-skull and re-irradiation, protons earn their place. For most adult prostate, breast and lung, modern VMAT and SBRT do the same job at a fraction of the cost.

  • Short fractionation where the trials support it

    Modern breast (5 fractions), prostate SBRT (5 fractions) and single-fraction palliation are underused privately. We push for them when the evidence supports.

  • One consultant, not a rotating desk

    A named clinical oncologist owns the plan from CT-sim through weekly review to end-of-treatment, so nothing falls through the gaps.

When it helps

When radiotherapy is the right treatment.

The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means same-day oncology cover - not a routine referral.

  • Curative treatment for early-stage tumours

    Prostate, early lung, head and neck, cervix and skin cancers where radiotherapy alone can be curative - often instead of surgery.

  • Adjuvant after surgery

    After breast conservation, high-risk prostatectomy, brain tumour resection or sarcoma excision to mop up microscopic disease and cut local recurrence.

  • Neoadjuvant before surgery

    Rectal, oesophageal and some sarcomas - radiotherapy (often with chemotherapy) before the operation shrinks the tumour and improves clearance.

  • Oligometastatic disease

    A small number of secondary deposits - SBRT to each can extend disease-free time and delay systemic therapy escalation.

  • Symptom control (palliative)

    Bone pain, spinal cord compression, brain metastases, haemoptysis and bleeding - often a single fraction or five gives durable relief.

  • Benign disease with radiotherapy indication

    Pituitary adenoma, meningioma, AVM, keloid prophylaxis, heterotopic ossification prevention and severe Graves ophthalmopathy in selected cases.

  • Re-irradiation of recurrence

    Recurrent tumour in a previously treated field - technically demanding, best done with SBRT or protons in specialist centres.

  • Red flag: suspected spinal cord compression

    New back pain with leg weakness, numbness or bladder change in a cancer patient is an emergency - same-day MRI and radiotherapy, not a routine referral.

Modality options

Photons, protons and brachytherapy - each has its place.

The main modalities in modern UK practice - what each involves and where it earns its place over the alternatives.

  • 3D conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT)

    Multiple shaped beams from a linac, planned on CT. The reliable baseline still used for palliative work and some straightforward radical fields.

  • IMRT (intensity-modulated)

    Each beam is broken into thousands of beamlets of varying intensity - sculpts dose around concave targets and spares nearby organs. Standard for head and neck, prostate, gynae.

  • VMAT (volumetric arc therapy)

    IMRT delivered while the gantry rotates - one or two arcs, 2–5 minutes on the table. The workhorse for most curative radical courses today.

  • SBRT / SABR

    Ablative doses in 3–8 fractions using tight margins, image guidance and motion management. Standard of care for early lung, oligometastases, spinal metastases and selected liver and prostate.

  • Proton beam therapy

    Charged particles that stop at a chosen depth (the Bragg peak) - no exit dose. Best gains in paediatric, base-of-skull, spinal cord tumours and reirradiation. Overused for adult prostate outside trials.

  • Brachytherapy

    A radiation source placed inside or against the tumour - cervix, prostate (HDR/LDR), oesophagus, skin. Very high local dose, tiny margin, short overall time.

  • Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)

    Single-fraction SBRT for brain - CyberKnife, Gamma Knife or linac-based. First-line for 1–4 brain metastases and small acoustic neuromas.

  • Electron and superficial X-ray therapy

    Low-energy beams for skin cancers, keloid scars and superficial chest wall recurrence. Fast, well tolerated, minimal deep dose.

Safety and recovery

What to expect during and after - honestly.

Radiotherapy is well tolerated by most patients. The things worth planning are acute side effects during treatment and - for radical courses - late effects over years.

  • Acute skin reactions

    Redness, dryness and - in high-dose sites - moist desquamation from around week three. Peaks 1–2 weeks after the last fraction, settles over 4–6 weeks. Emollients and steroid cream on advice.

  • Fatigue

    Almost universal by week two or three, worst at end of treatment and for 4–8 weeks after. Gentle exercise, protein-rich diet and pacing are the evidence-based responses.

  • Site-specific mucositis

    Head and neck: mouth and throat soreness, taste change, dry mouth. Pelvis: bowel frequency, urinary urgency. Chest: swallowing discomfort, mild cough. Managed by the review team.

  • Bloods and immunity

    Large-field and combined chemo-radiotherapy can drop white cells and platelets. Weekly bloods where relevant. Report fever above 38 °C, spreading redness or heavy bleeding urgently.

  • Late effects (months to years)

    Fibrosis, telangiectasia, lymphoedema, cataract, hypothyroidism, second cancers at 1 in 500 to 1 in 1,000 patient-years depending on age and site. Plans are optimised to keep these low.

  • Fertility and gonads

    Pelvic or cranial radiotherapy can affect fertility and hormones. Sperm banking, oocyte or ovarian tissue cryopreservation, or gonadal shielding are planned before starting - not after.

  • Cardiac and lung dose

    Left breast, mediastinal and lung fields carry a small long-term cardiac and pulmonary risk. Deep-inspiration breath hold, protons and careful planning keep dose to organs at risk within modern constraints.

  • Nothing is radioactive after external beam

    External radiotherapy (linac, protons, SBRT) leaves no radiation behind. You are safe to hold children and grandchildren straight after each fraction. Only LDR brachytherapy and radionuclide therapy carry short-lived precautions.

  • Red flags after treatment

    Sudden severe pain, bleeding, breathlessness, new leg weakness or fever above 38 °C need the on-call oncology team or A&E - not a routine appointment.

Reading your radiotherapy summary

Your treatment summary in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever modality was used - VMAT, SBRT, protons or brachytherapy - the end-of-treatment summary sent to you and your GP keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant clinical oncologist reviewing a patient’s radiotherapy plan

A quiet reminder

Radiotherapy language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the prescription, dose constraints and response assessment before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Prescription

    Total dose, fractions and modality

    The total dose in gray, number of fractions, dose per fraction and modality (VMAT, SBRT, protons, brachy). This defines what you actually received.

  2. 02 Target

    GTV, CTV and PTV

    Gross tumour volume (what was visible), clinical target volume (with microscopic margin) and planning target volume (with set-up margin). The three concentric volumes the plan is built around.

  3. 03 Constraints

    Organs at risk and dose limits

    Doses received by nearby organs - spinal cord, heart, lungs, bowel, salivary glands, rectum - checked against modern QUANTEC and site-specific constraints.

  4. 04 Assessment

    Response, side effects and next steps

    Read this first: response to treatment, acute toxicity graded CTCAE, follow-up imaging plan and any recommended systemic therapy or surveillance.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Radiotherapy is usually covered under a cancer benefit when medically indicated. Proton beam therapy cover is variable and pre-authorisation always required.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about radiotherapy.

Quick answers on modality choice, fractionation, side effects, cost and radioactivity.

  • Will radiotherapy make me radioactive?

    External beam radiotherapy - the standard linac, VMAT, SBRT and proton treatments - leaves no radiation behind. You are safe to be near children, pregnant partners and pets straight after each fraction. Only low-dose-rate brachytherapy implants and radionuclide therapies like lutetium or radium carry short-lived, well-defined precautions, which the team walks you through.

  • How many fractions will I need?

    It depends on the tumour and intent. Palliative bone pain can be a single fraction. Modern breast is often 5–15 fractions. Prostate radical courses run 5 (SBRT), 20 or 37 fractions. Head and neck typically 30–33 fractions over 6–7 weeks. Your oncologist will match the fractionation to the evidence for your diagnosis.

  • Are protons better than photons?

    For paediatric tumours, base-of-skull and spinal cord tumours and re-irradiation, protons meaningfully reduce dose to normal tissue. For most adult prostate, breast and lung cancers the clinical outcomes are the same as modern VMAT or SBRT and the extra cost is not justified outside trials. We will say so plainly.

  • How long is a typical daily appointment?

    The beam itself is 1–3 minutes. Set-up, immobilisation and cone-beam CT imaging bring the total to 10–20 minutes on the table, sometimes 30–60 for SBRT and stereotactic cases. Plan to be at the centre for 30–60 minutes door-to-door.

  • Can I keep working through treatment?

    Many people do, especially with short palliative courses or focal SBRT. Longer radical courses to the head and neck, pelvis or large lung fields cause enough fatigue and side effects by week three that reduced hours or sick leave is realistic. Plan the flex into your diary before you start.

  • How much does a private radiotherapy course cost in the UK?

    Roughly £6,000–£12,000 for 3D-CRT, £12,000–£25,000 for a full IMRT/VMAT course, £12,000–£22,000 for SBRT, £8,000–£18,000 for single-lesion radiosurgery, £4,500–£9,000 per brachytherapy insertion, and £40,000–£110,000 for a full proton course.

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