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

Radiotherapy is rarely used to treat cancer of the ovary. It may occasionally be used to treat an area of cancer that has come back after surgery and chemotherapy, when other treatment options are no longer appropriate. It may also be used to reduce bleeding or 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 be between 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.