The department provides one of the most important steps for treating tumors which is radiation therapy; therefore, this department was developed with the latest technology to complete the treatment process in an appropriate manner and to take a good care of the patient.

A summary of the Radiotherapy

In recent years, our country has witnessed a great expansion in the possibilities of radiotherapy services for oncology patients, and this expansion continues to increase steadily and it did not take long for these services to become an important part of medical care for oncology patients, integrated with other treatment methods so that cancer patients in Libya have opportunities for comprehensive and balanced treatment. This provides him with the chances of recovery provided by modern treatment methods. As we know that modern radiotherapy needs advanced technology to achieve the highest possible chances of controlling tumors with the least amount of complications.

The Department of radiotherapy  at the National cancer Institute of  Misurata is one of the modern departments that receive oncology patients nationwide to provide them with the appropriate treatment using three-dimensional radiotherapy technology.

Due to the increase in the number of patients attending to the department . The Radiation Oncology Department at the institute provides advanced radiotherapy services for cancer patients, as its services include a wide range of tumors, and radiation therapy is provided to patients with three-dimensional technology through a medical team that includes one specialist, 3 radiotherapy oncologists, 7 physicists, 14 technicians, and 4 nurses.

The team works closely with their colleagues in several departments within the institute in order to facilitate work procedures through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary team approach to cancer patients. The department uses the latest devices and equipment to implement the most advanced treatment procedures to ensure the best possible outcomes for the disease through the linear accelerator device. 6MV, in addition to a CT simulator using  and acuity simulator for verification, and in steps towards completion of the commissioning for  two advanced linear accelerators with  multiple energy.

The department provides its services to male and female patients of all ages, and the department has the necessary capacity to provide its services to about 35 to 40 new patients per month, as well as for patients under treatment and follow-up patients.

A multidisciplinary approach is adopted for the basic steps of treatment planning such as investigating the spread of the tumor and determining the staging of the tumor where the patient is assessed jointly by multiple clinics such as nuclear medicine, radiology and the department of pathology.

Radiation therapy is essential in controlling or killing malignant cells using high-energy ionizing radiation. Radiation therapy is used as a primary treatment with the goal of curing cancer or in combination with other treatment methods (surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and / or hormonal therapy) as an aid to cancer recovery. It is sometimes used as a palliative treatment to relieve pain and delay the growth of a tumor and its associated symptoms.

Dr / Awatif Abousahmen

Head of the Radiation oncology Department

• The department provides radiation therapy for institute patients and other patients as well.
• The treatment is given to patients as curative or palliative therapy as needed.
• The department uses 3D technology in the treatment.
• VMAT, IMRT therapeutic techniques are equipped, which will be exclusively available at the institute in Libya.
• The department contains three 6MV linear accelerator devices.
• It also contains a fully equipped medical physics department for dosimetry and monitoring unit.