Radiotherapy treats cancer by using high-energy rays which destroy the cancer cells, while doing as little harm as possible to normal cells.

Radiotherapy is not often used to treat cancer of the ovary, but may occasionally be used to treat individual areas of cancer if it comes back after surgery and chemotherapy. It may also be used to reduce bleeding, feelings of pain and discomfort. This is known as palliative radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy is given in the hospital radiotherapy department. A course of palliative treatment may include from one to ten sessions. Each session lasts a few minutes. The length of your treatment will depend on the type and size of the cancer. Your doctor will discuss your treatment with you in detail beforehand.

Our radiotherapy section gives more details about this treatment and its side effects.