How is IG-SRT different from other types of radiation therapy?

IG-SRT is very different from the high-powered radiation therapies used for internal cancers like lung, breast, or prostate cancer. External beam radiation in a hospital (the kind used for internal tumors) uses a large machine (linear accelerator) to send high-energy radiation beams deep into the body. Those treatments can affect organs and cause systemic side effects like fatigue, because they often irradiate a larger area and higher dose. Internal radiation (brachytherapy) involves placing radioactive material inside the body, which can even make a patient temporarily radioactive after treatment. In contrast, IG-SRT uses low-energy X-rays that penetrate only the skin’s surface. It’s specifically tailored for skin – it goes only as deep as the skin and has little to no effect on tissues beyond the skin. Also, IG-SRT patients do not become radioactive; once the machine is off, there is no radiation in your body. Side effects from IG-SRT are mild and local (skin irritation), whereas external beam radiation for internal cancers can cause more severe side effects depending on the area treated. Another difference: IG-SRT is given in a dermatology office by a specialized team, not in a big radiation oncology department, and it’s the first and only form of radiation for skin cancer that uses ultrasound imaging for guidance. So, IG-SRT stands apart as a very localized, gentle form of radiation – it’s “tough on cancer, gentle on skin,” whereas other radiations are designed to tackle deep tumors and can be tough on the body.