Saolta Radiation Oncology Centre

Radiation Oncology Centre at UHG

Radiotherapy, also known as Radiation Oncology treatment, is the practice of using powerful x-rays to kill cancer cells. These x-rays can be focused accurately on any part of the human body. The high-energy radiation used during radiotherapy permanently damages cancer cells, stopping them from reproducing causing them to die. The key is to deliver as high a dose into the cancer while minimising the dose to the tissues and organs around the cancer. This increases the chance of cure while minimising the amount of side effects that a patient might feel.

Radiotherapy kills cancer cells, shrinks tumours and relieves cancer symptoms. Radiotherapy can be used independently or in combination with other treatments like surgery or chemotherapy.

Radiotherapy can be delivered at any stage during a patient’s cancer journey and it is given at a stage where it would be of most benefit to the patient.

Your Radiation Oncologist will recommend radiotherapy tailored to your condition and the kind of cancer that you have.

Radiotherapy can be given in 2 different ways:

• from outside the body (external beam radiotherapy or EBRT) or
• inside the body (brachytherapy).

External beam radiotherapy involves using a machine called a Linear Accelerator (Linac), which focuses high-energy radiation beams onto the area requiring treatment. External beam radiotherapy usually involves a series of daily treatments over a number of days or weeks.

Internal radiotherapy can involve placing a small piece of radioactive material temporarily inside the body near the cancerous cells or permanently implanting tiny devices such as seeds which will deliver a low dose of radiotherapy over a short period of time.

Up to 60% of cancer patients will require radiotherapy during the course of their cancer treatment.

About your treatment: What to expect before, during and after your radiotherapy treatment 

Resources available to patients during their treatment

Saolta Radiation Oncology Centre radiotherapy team

Our team includes; 

Medical Staff  
The Medical Staff include Consultant Radiation Oncologists, Specialists Registrars, Registrars and Senior House Officers

Radiation Therapists/Clinical Specialist     
A Radiation Therapist is a specialist in all aspects of radiation treatment and cancer care. They make sure that your treatment is delivered safely on a daily basis.  They check you for any possible side effects that you might have. 

Administration team
The administration team includes receptionists, medical secretaries and planning CT appointments booking officers.

Oncology nurses/Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Oncology Nurses take care of cancer patients. Oncology nurses work with physicians and other medical professionals to prevent, diagnose, treat, and manage cancer symptoms. They also provide palliative care.

Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner (RANP)
Advanced Nurse Practitioners work independently. They are accountable for their own professional actions. They undertake clinical nursing practice at an advanced level.

Health Care Assistants                                            
Healthcare assistants make sure the patient experience is as comfortable and stress-free as possible. They help with all aspects of patient care.

Porters
Porters move patients between different departments and wards in safety and comfort. They also transport complex and valuable equipment that may need expert handling around the building.                                                             

Radiation Physicists
Radiation Physicists oversee safety and help Radiation Oncologists and Radiation Therapists with the planning of treatments.  They are also responsible for making sure that the equipment is correctly set up when it is first installed. They also create, implement and monitor advanced cancer radiation treatment technologies.

Dosimetrists
Dosimetrists make sure that radiation treatment promotes the most effective radiation dose with the fewest side effects to the patient's healthy organs.                                                                                

Social worker
Oncology social workers help cancer patients and their families cope with and navigate cancer. They are trained to identify social and emotional needs and provide services to meet them. They are a key member of cancer care teams.

Speech and language therapist (SLT)
The Speech and Language Therapists (SLT) have expertise in dysphagia (swallowing difficulties), speech, voice and laryngectomy rehabilitation, tracheostomy management to optimise patient recovery.

Dietician
Oncology dietitians specialise in patient needs to optimise nutritional intake and assist in achieving treatment goals.

Physiotherapist
Oncology physiotherapists have skills that can help to manage cancer-related impairments such as lymphoedema, functional decline and cancer-related fatigue. 

Psychologist specialising in Psycho-oncology cancer services
Psycho-oncology deals with psychological reactions to the experience of cancer, the behavioural component of coping with cancer as well as health behaviour change including preventive medicine, and social factors that are associated with diagnosis and treatment of cancer, including communication with providers and loved ones.

Where to find us 

Opening Hours: Our Radiation Oncology Centre is open from Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm.

Phone (Radiation Oncology Centre Reception): 091 542600

Address: Saolta Radiation Oncology Centre, University Hospital Galway, Newcastle Road, Galway

Directions: From the main entrance to University Hospital Galway on the Newcastle Road, turn left and keep left for approximately 500 metres. The Radiation Oncology Centre is located on the right, before the Cancer Care West, Inis Aoibhinn building. 

From the Browne Roundabout, enter through the back gate of University Hospital Galway.  Take the first right turn and continue for approximately 450 metres.  The Radiation Oncology Centre is located on the left, after the Cancer Care West, Inis Aoibhinn building.

Parking: There is some car parking available for patients receiving treatment.  We will discuss this with you before your radiotherapy treatment.

University Hospital Galway is accessible by public transport: https://www.transportforireland.ie/