Radiation therapy in Spain

Oncological diseases are among the most common in the world, ranking among the leading causes of death. Today, the diagnosis and treatment of cancer are actively developing, significantly improving the chances of a favorable outcome for patients seeking help.

Radiation therapy is one of the main types of cancer treatment. It involves the use of special equipment to deliver ionizing radiation directly to tumor cells. High doses of radiation help slow or stop tumor growth. Radiation therapy damages the DNA of tumor cells, ultimately leading to their death over time.

To achieve the best results, radiation therapy is typically carried out in courses, as a single radiation session in most cases is not enough to damage the DNA of malignant cells.

When choosing the best conditions for diagnosis and treatment, patients increasingly prefer European clinics, paying attention to the availability of innovative technologies, experience and qualifications of doctors, and the availability of comfortable conditions.

Radiation therapy in Spain

The advantages of radiation therapy in Spain make this country one of the best destinations for cancer treatment:

Use of Advanced Technologies

Spain has been treating cancer with radiation therapy for a long time due to its proven effectiveness. Spanish clinics are equipped with the latest equipment, which ensures more precise and safe application of radiotherapy. For instance, linear accelerators enable the accurate targeting of powerful radiation beams at even small tumors. Leading Spanish clinics use a wide range of modern equipment for radiation therapy, including:

• CyberKnife;
• Gamma Knife;
• Linear accelerators;
• Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT);
• Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT).

To diagnose oncological diseases, advanced imaging techniques, such as PET-CT and 3D-MRI are used to precisely identify the tumor location and possible metastases.

Innovative Treatment Methods

Spanish doctors successfully use various radiation therapy techniques. Spain offers the following innovative methods of radiotherapy:

• Proton therapy. The main advantage of this method is the property of proton beams to stop at a predetermined depth and release maximum energy at a specified area. This minimizes negative impact on the body while enhancing the effectiveness of targeting tumors.
• Stereotactic radiotherapy. This type of radiation targets the tumor or metastases using a three-dimensional coordinate system. Precise 3D navigation ensures focused irradiation of the tumor, directly affecting it. Stereotactic radiosurgery can deliver high doses of radiation in either a single session or a short course.
• Brachytherapy (internal therapy). This involves placing the radiation source inside or near the tumor, delivering a high concentration of radiation in the affected area with minimal impact on healthy tissue.

Highly Qualified Doctors

Spanish doctors actively diagnose and treat cancer for patients from around the world, gaining invaluable experience in using the latest equipment and interpreting the most complex examination results. Radiation therapy for elderly patients in Spain, as well as for children and young patients,demonstrates high effectiveness and can help achieve sustained remission and significantly improve quality of life.

Affordable Prices

Currently, the cost of radiation therapy in Europe is quite attractive. The price of radiation therapy in Spain directly depends on numerous factors, including the treatment method, technologies used, and the patient’s health condition.

Cost of Radiation Therapy in Spain

Radiation therapy in Spain is one of the most popular destinations for medical tourism.

An important factor for decision making is the cost of diagnostic procedures and the cost of radiation therapy. The price of radiotherapy in Spain is determined by several factors:

• Regular equipment upgrades. Spanish clinics such as Teknon, Quirón, Sant Joan de Déu, and the HM Hospital Group have specialized departments for treating cancer and performing radiation therapy. Treatment is provided for both adults and children. Leading Spanish clinics are actively developing these areas, making it possible to provide radiation therapy to children in Spain at affordable prices.
• Medical staff qualifications. Spanish clinics collaborate with world-renowned doctors. Radiation therapists in Spain have extensive experience in treating cancer, and are also involved in scientific research, developing new treatment methods.
• Patient’s health condition. The cost of radiation therapy is also influenced by factors such as tumor location, its size, presence of metastases, and concomitant diseases. Additionally, the cost of therapy will depend on the choice of diagnostic methods and the type of radiation therapy used.

Spanish clinics for Radiation Therapy

There are a number of advanced clinics in Spain offering cancer treatment for both children and adults.

Teknon Medical Center

Teknon Clinic employs highly qualified oncologists and oncosurgeons who take on complex cases.

The clinic provides treatment according to the latest international protocols, using new equipment for radiation therapy in Spain.The Pediatric Department of the Teknon Medical Center closely collaborates with the leading US Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. This partnership enables Teknon to be among the first in Spain to adopt cutting-edge techniques and seek second opinions from globally renowned oncologists.

Sant Joan de Déu Children’s Hospital

Sant Joan de Déu Hospital is one of Europe’s leading medical centres, specialising in providing medical care to young children and adolescents.

Pediatric oncology is one of the clinic’s main areas of work, offering specialized care for various types of cancer at all stages. The medical center is the most successful in the country for treating all types of cancer, achieving remission and recovery in 85–90% of cases (depending on the type of disease and its stage). Since the center specializes in the treatment of children and adolescents (up to the age of 21), much attention is paid to the psychological comfort of patients.

Quirónsalud Barcelona Hospital

Quironsalud Medical Center has an extensive scientific base, actively conducting research to improve the effectiveness of cancer treatment for children and adults.

The hospital employs oncologists with many years of experience, enabling precise diagnosis of complex diseases. Quiron Medical Center houses one of the best medical genetic laboratories in the country, which analyzes patients’ biological material to identify the causes of cancer. Based on the findings, a team of doctors develops a personalized treatment plan tailored to the individual needs of each patient.

HM Hospitals

The HM Hospitals Group includes clinics, outpatient centers, and large specialized facilities located in several Spanish cities: Barcelona, Madrid, Galicia, and Leon.

The primary principle of HM clinics is a personalized approach, where treatment is tailored to the patient’s needs and specific health conditions. The HM Hospitals Group has extensive experience in treating cancer at various stages, using the most modern equipment and developing innovative treatment methods. Ongoing research ensures access to the latest treatment protocols.

Indications for Radiation Therapy in Cancer Treatment

Treatment of oncological diseases is a complex and painstaking process. Developing a treatment plan begins with a thorough diagnosis and selection of the most effective therapy method.

Today, radiation therapy is indicated in the majority of cancer cases.

It is important to remember that radiation therapy encompasses a wide range of methods that are used depending on the specific type of disease and its stage.

Spanish Clinics offer the following innovative types of radiation therapy:

• IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy) is a type of radiation therapy where the radiation dose is not uniformly administered, but is adjusted using 3D modeling. This approach maximizes radiation delivery to the tumor while minimizing the impact on surrounding healthy tissue. IMRT is typically used to treat breast cancer, prostate cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, brain tumors, and soft tissues tumors of the head and neck.
• IGRT (Image-Guided Radiation Therapy) is a type of therapy that allows for repeated imaging of the treatment area during the course of therapy. These images enable doctors to monitor the dynamics of tumor changes and adjust the patient’s body position and the degree of irradiation to obtain better results.
• Stereotactic therapy involves multiple precisely focused radiation beams targeting a tumor. The treatment is carried out in a short course. This therapy is especially effective for tumors of the brain, neck, liver, lungs, and spine.
• Brachytherapy is a method of internal radiation where the radiation source is surgically placed inside or near the tumor. This allows the use of higher doses of radiation than with external methods. Brachytherapy is widely used for cervical and uterine cancer, as well as for prostate cancer.
• Gamma Knife is a highly effective radiation therapy method that uses precise gamma rays to destroy tumors without affecting healthy cells. Gamma Knife is often used to treat small brain tumors, brain metastases, vascular anomalies, and tumors of the nervous system.
• X-ray radiation therapy is an effective method of fighting cancer, in which high doses of radiation damage and destroy cancer cells. It is most often used to combat skin cancer, rib metastases, vulvar cancer, lip cancer, and precancerous conditions.
• Targeted alpha therapy involves specialized drugs with alpha radiation that specifically destroy cancer cells without harming healthy cells. The method is used to treat bone sarcoma, prostate cancer, and bone metastases.
• Proton therapy is a type of radiation therapy that uses protons instead of traditional X-rays to precisely target and destroy the DNA of tumor cells. Doctors can precisely control the direction of the protons, so this type of treatment is often used for deep-seated tumors and in cases where the tumor is located near vital organs. For example, proton therapy is used for eye cancer, pituitary tumors, and spinal cord tumors.
• Neutron therapy is a new type of radiotherapy using neutron radiation. It is used for malignant brain tumors and radiation-resistant tumors.

Procedure and Stages of Radiation Therapy

When discussing the stages of radiation therapy, it is important to remember that the type and duration of therapy are tailored to each individual case based on the patient’s condition, type of cancer, and its stage. However, tailored to each individual case based on the patient’s condition. Radion therapy in Spain includes the following stages:

1. Preparation for radiation therapy

Patients undergo thorough diagnostics to determine the location of the tumor. Doctors then develop an individual treatment plan taking into account the most effective type of radiation, and determine the course and number of radiotherapy sessions.

MedTour specialists have extensive experience in selecting doctors and clinics based on the individual needs of each patient. Our medical coordinator will help you choose the right clinic and arrange consultations with the best doctor. MedTour handles organizational issues, including translation services and support during treatment, booking airline tickets, transfers, and translation of medical documentation. Our team will be available 24/7 to assist you with any arising issues.

2. The main stage: undergoing radiation therapy

Patients undergo scheduled radiation therapy sessions. The type, frequency, and duration of radiation depend on the treatment chosen for the specific tumor in each individual case.

• IMRT (intensity-modulated radiation therapy) and IGRT (image-guided radiation therapy) typically performed once a day and last 10-15 minutes. Treatment courses can last several weeks.
• Stereotactic radiotherapy usually involves 1 to 5 sessions. The duration of therapy varies from 30 minutes to 2 hours.

The effectiveness of radiation therapy in Spain, as in other countries, is assessed after completing the full course of treatment.

3. Rehabilitation

Upon completing the main stage, the treatment results are assessed, and any side effects of radiation therapy are addressed. Common side effects include:

• Weakness and fatigue. Modern equipment minimizes damage to healthy cells, but the body still responds to the treatment. Fighting cancer cells requires significant resources from the body. Also, emotional stress can increase fatigue. Therefore, the patient’s psychological comfort is extremely important;
• Hair loss in the treated area is a fairly common side effect that typically resolves within 3-6 months after treatment. Hair loss does not last forever, it is a temporary phenomenon. When undergoing chemotherapy, a common side effect is hair loss all over the body, while with radiation therapy, temporary hair loss and limited to the treated area;
• Redness, darkening, or irritation of the skin in the treated area. Such symptoms may appear a few weeks after completing therapy. Doctors provide clear recommendations for moisturizing and protecting the skin.
• Other side effects (nausea, loss of appetite, decreased libido, or thyroid dysfunction). Physicians inform patients about potential reactions in advance and offer recommendations to manage side effects and improve overall well-being.

Radiation therapy in Spain represents a promising avenue of medical tourism, offering advanced medical treatments for oncological diseases combined with comfortable living conditions and the opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere of one of Europe’s most attractive countries, famous for its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage.

Published: 26.12.2024

Updated: 31.12.2024

Medical author:

Olha Panchenko

Medical author, Medical editor:

Natalia Segen