Different techniques and equipment are used at The William Buckland Radiotherapy Centre to give radiotherapy. The most common form of treatment is called Megavoltage Therapy (MVT) or External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT). This treatment is given by a large x-ray machine called a linear accelerator. We have three of these machines equipped with the most modern facilities to accurately treat any part of the body or any type of tumour.

Treatment can usually be interchanged between machines if required. Our equipment allows us to check, during treatment, the accuracy of the treatment given. A course of MVT can be anything from one to upwards of thirty individual treatments, depending on the area and disease treated. A standard MVT treatment usually takes about ten minutes, but complex treatments can take up to an hour. Special techniques are used to keep patients, or parts of patients, still during their treatment. We aim to schedule these treatments at a time that is most convenient for patients, although some flexibility is often required.