Most people who come for radiation therapy have one doubt  “Doctor, will this treatment go inside my body or stay outside?” It’s a genuine question. Radiation can be given in two ways, internal and external. Both aim to kill cancer cells, but the way we do it, and what you feel during it, are not the same.

External Radiation

See, external radiation is what most people imagine. You lie on a table, the big machine moves around, and it sends invisible rays exactly where the cancer is. You don’t feel it; it doesn’t burn or hurt. The session finishes in a few minutes. After that, you get up and go home. Nothing remains inside your body.
This method is used for many cancers  brain, breast, prostate, lung, and so on. The best part is that we can focus the rays so accurately that the healthy parts of the body are barely touched. That’s how we keep radiation oncology side effects low. Some people might feel tired or notice mild redness on the skin, but that goes away quickly.

Internal Radiation

Internal radiation, which we also call brachytherapy, works differently. Instead of the machine, we place a small radiation source inside the body, near the tumor. It could be tiny seeds or thin tubes. These stay there for a short time, do their job, and are then removed carefully.
Don’t worry  it doesn’t make you radioactive after the procedure. The treatment area gets a strong, direct dose, and the rest of the body stays safe. We often use this for cancers of the cervix, uterus, or prostate where accuracy matters a lot.

How It Feels

External therapy is simple. You come daily for short sittings over a few weeks. Internal therapy usually needs one or two days in the hospital. Our team stays with you all through, watching everything closely.
If the treatment area is near the throat, you might feel a dry mouth. For chest or abdomen cases, there can be light cough or nausea. In internal therapy, sometimes there’s a swelling or soreness for a few days. These are normal and easy to manage with medicines and rest.

Choosing the Right Type

We decide based on your scans, the size and depth of the tumor, and your overall health. Sometimes both are used together  first external, then internal  to make sure no cancer cell is left behind.
Every person’s plan is different. There’s no “one formula” here. What matters is giving maximum benefit with minimum trouble.

Why IOCI

At IOCI, known as one of the best cancer treatment hospitals in India, the whole process is planned in detail. Radiation oncologists, medical physicists, and nurses work as one team. Our aim is not only to treat the disease but to make sure you stay comfortable and confident during therapy.
We talk you through every step before it starts, explain what you may feel, and how to handle small issues. When patients understand their treatment, fear reduces  and that helps healing faster.

Consult us at any of our locations across IOCI Noida, Greater Noida, Mumbai, Indore, Chh. Sambhajinagar, Agartala, Saharanpur, Kanpur and Jodhpur.