Radiation therapy or radiotherapy, often abbreviated RT, RTx, or XRT, is a therapy using ionizing radiation, generally provided as part of cancer treatment to control or kill malignant cells and normally delivered by a linear accelerator
How Much Does Radiation Therapy Cost In South Africa
A drug such as Herceptin can cost around R20 000 for one dose, which can be prescribed monthly.
A session of radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy could cost from a few thousand to over R10 000
Is radiation therapy expensive?
Radiation therapy can be expensive. It uses complex machines and involves the services of many health care providers.
The exact cost of your radiation therapy depends on the cost of health care where you live, what type of radiation therapy you get, and how many treatments you need
How long is a session of radiation therapy?
In most instances, treatments are usually spread out over several weeks to allow your healthy cells to recover in between radiation therapy sessions.
Expect each treatment session to last approximately 10 to 30 minutes
What can I expect after my first radiation treatment?
The most common early side effects are fatigue (feeling tired) and skin changes. Other early side effects usually are related to the area being treated, such as hair loss and mouth problems when radiation treatment is given to this area. Late side effects can take months or even years to develop
How many days a week is radiation therapy?
Most patients get radiation treatments daily, 5 days a week (Monday through Friday) for 5 to 8 weeks.
Weekend rest breaks allow time for normal cells to recover.
How much does chemotherapy cost in SA?
In South Africa, the cost of cancer treatment is very high, and a study conducted in 2020 to estimate the cost of chemotherapy in the public sector arrived at a whopping R15 774 as the average care cost per patient.
How long after radiation do you start to feel better?
Your skin should start to feel better a few weeks after therapy ends. But when it heals, it may be a darker color.
And you’ll still need to protect yourself from the sun even after radiation therapy has ended.