Gallbladder Cancer Treatment: External Beam Radiation Therapy

External Beam Radiation for Gallbladder Cancer

A common method of gallbladder cancer treatment used at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), external beam radiation therapy (also known as EBRT) works by directing an external "beam" of radiation onto areas of your body that are affected by gallbladder cancer.

A simple and painless procedure that lasts just a few minutes at a time, external beam radiation therapy uses a high-energy X-ray machine called a linear accelerator to direct radiation beams at a gallbladder tumor. External beam radiation therapy is usually administered five days a week, over the course of six to eight weeks.

Innovative new advancements in radiation therapy for gallbladder cancer continue to evolve and be refined, featuring significant advancements in computer hardware and software.

At CTCA, our cancer doctors leverage innovative, new technologies in radiation therapy to target gallbladder tumors with higher doses of radiation, all the while minimizing damage to healthy gallbladder tissue.

Your radiation oncologist at CTCA may recommend that you integrate external beam radiation therapy into your gallbladder treatment plan for a variety of reasons. A major advantage of this procedure is that it does not carry the same risk of complications as major surgery does, such as bleeding, post-operative pain, or risks of stroke, heart attack or blood clot. Furthermore, the procedure itself is painless. Please note that external beam radiation therapy also does not pose any risk of radioactivity to you or others with whom you have contact. You may continue normal activities with family and friends.

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