Can the radiation from IG-SRT cause cancer later on?

This is a common concern, but the data are very reassuring. There has never been a documented case of IG-SRT causing a new cancer in a patient. The theoretical risk exists with any form of radiation – high doses of radiation can increase cancer risk decades later – however, the doses and area involved in IG-SRT are so limited that in practice it has not shown to induce secondary malignancies in studies. Statistically, it’s estimated that there is a less than 5% chance of a secondary cancer developing in the treated area within 20-40 years, and even that is based on older radiation data and likely an overestimation for IG-SRT. To put it in perspective, people who have had one skin cancer have about a 40-50% chance of developing another skin cancer somewhere on their body within 5 years simply due to sun damage and their skin type. That is far more likely than getting a cancer specifically from the treatment. Often what might be mistaken as a “radiation-caused” cancer is actually a new skin cancer from UV exposure that pops up near the old site. In summary, while radiation in general can cause cancer, the level used in IG-SRT has not been shown to do so in real-world use. The risk is extremely low and outweighed by the benefit of treating the known skin cancer. We always encourage sun protection to prevent new skin cancers (since UV is the main culprit, not the radiation treatment). If you still feel worried, talk to us – but the evidence so far indicates IG-SRT is safe in this regard.