“Fortunately, long-term survivors are a reality,” says Raquel Ciérvide, MD, PhD, radiation oncologist at HM Sanchinarro University Hospital in Madrid. Discover how modern radiotherapy adapts to the needs of recurring care—preserving both precision and patients’ everyday lives.
When Raquel Ciérvide began her work at HM Sanchinarro University Hospital in the north of Madrid about 15 years ago, each brain metastasis had to be treated individually. Today, with advanced planning and delivery tools, clinicians can treat all lesions in a single session—without compromising precision. For clinicians like Dr. Ciérvide, it means more time to focus on decision-making and individualized patient care.
As cancer care advances, more patients are living longer—and returning for additional rounds of treatment. For radiation oncologists, this creates a new frontier of challenges: how to safely re-treat previously irradiated areas, how to protect healthy tissue already exposed to radiation, and how to maintain precision when treatment plans span months or even years.
Re-irradiating tissue that has already received high doses of radiation poses significant risks. Damage to healthy brain structures, an increased chance of radionecrosis, and the complexity of accounting for older dose distributions make each decision uniquely challenging.
Modern planning tools help teams navigate these questions by reconstructing dose histories and modeling treatment limits. But Ciérvide emphasizes that no decision is made in isolation. Multidisciplinary tumor boards—including radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, physicists, neuroradiologists, neurosurgeons and other specialists—are essential to mapping out safe and effective care.
With technology designed for the long run, radiotherapy today is not just about targeting tumors—it’s about empowering patients to reclaim their everyday lives.
The statements made by the healthcare professional during this interview represent their personal opinion and experiences. These statements may not be supported by scientific evidence or peer-review research. For verified information about the device, please refer to the manufacturer’s official documentation or consult clinical guidances.
