Lung cancer
Early-stage lung cancers in patients unsuitable for surgery. Also oligometastatic lung disease where ablating each lesion may extend disease-free intervals.
Treatments
SBRT is precision radiation,
SBRT is precision radiation,
in just 3–5 sessions.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy — an ablative dose delivered to a precisely defined tumour target in just 3–5 sessions. Comparable cancer-control to surgery for many indications, without an incision, hospital stay, or recovery period.
3–5Sessions over 1–2 weeks
±1mmTargeting precision
5+Cancer types treated
Image · placeholderPatient on the linac couch during SBRT — breath-hold technique
Image · placeholderCentre for Stereotactic Radiosurgery — Elekta treatment room
SBRT · What it is
SBRT, in plain language.
SBRT delivers a very high dose of radiation to a precisely defined tumour, in just 3–5 sessions instead of the 25–30 sessions of conventional radiotherapy. Each beam is sculpted to the exact 3D shape of the tumour, and image-guidance ensures the patient is positioned to within a millimetre of the planned position before every session.
What this means in practice: the dose is concentrated where it needs to be — and falls off sharply just outside the target. Surrounding healthy tissue receives a tiny fraction of the dose. That's why SBRT achieves cancer-control rates comparable to surgery for many indications, while sparing patients from anaesthesia, incisions, and weeks of recovery.
SBRT is a treatment that depends on technology, planning, and disciplined delivery — three things AARO has invested in refining at the Centre for Stereotactic Radiosurgery.
SBRT · Who is it for
Cancers and situations where SBRT can help.
SBRT is suited to specific clinical situations. Where it applies, it offers a different option from surgery or conventional radiation — fewer sessions, a focused dose, shorter recovery. These are the most common indications.
Liver cancer
Hepatocellular carcinoma not suitable for surgical resection or RFA, and limited liver metastases (1–3 lesions). SBRT preserves liver function while ablating disease.
Spine cancer
Primary spine tumours, vertebral metastases, and re-irradiation cases needing high-precision boost. SBRT delivers tumour dose while keeping the spinal cord under tolerance.
Prostate cancer
Low- and intermediate-risk localised prostate cancer in 5 sessions — comparable cancer-control to 28-session conventional radiation, with fewer visits and equivalent toxicity profiles.
Oligometastatic disease
Patients with 1–5 distant metastases — from breast, prostate, lung, colorectal or other primaries — where ablating each lesion may delay systemic progression and extend disease-free survival.
Re-irradiation
Recurrent disease in a previously-irradiated area. SBRT's sharp dose fall-off makes re-treatment possible where conventional radiation could not safely be repeated.
SBRT · How it works
Four stages, two weeks.
From first planning scan to last fraction, an SBRT course at AARO follows the same disciplined pathway. Hours of preparation per minute of treatment.
Image · placeholderImaging review console — contouring the tumour and organs-at-risk
Planning CT & contouring
A high-resolution CT scan in the treatment position. Your oncologist contours the tumour and surrounding organs-at-risk on every slice.
Image · placeholderTreatment planning workstation — plan calculation and review
Plan optimisation
Medical physicists and therapists optimise dose distribution against constraints. The plan is independently checked before approval.
Image · placeholderPatient positioning — green alignment lasers, starry ceiling
Image-guided positioning
Before every fraction, on-board imaging confirms your position to within a millimetre. Positioning lasers and the precision treatment couch correct for any drift.
Image · placeholderLinac delivering an SBRT fraction
Treatment delivery
Each fraction takes 15–30 minutes on the couch. You'll feel nothing as the radiation is delivered. 3–5 sessions over 1–2 weeks completes the course.
SBRT · What to expect
Quiet sessions, everyday recovery.
Most patients are surprised by how uneventful SBRT feels. You'll arrive, change into a gown, and lie on the precision treatment couch. Therapists position you using the same setup from your planning scan, take a verification image, and step out. The treatment itself takes around 5–10 minutes — you won't feel or see the radiation.
Side effects depend on what we're treating. Most are short-term and mild — fatigue, localised skin changes, or specific organ-related effects (such as oesophagitis for thoracic SBRT). They resolve within weeks of completing treatment.
You can drive yourself home, return to work, exercise, and travel. There's no anaesthesia, no incision, no overnight stay. For prostate SBRT we use SpaceOAR; for left-sided breast we use DIBH; for lung SBRT we monitor breathing motion. Each technique exists to minimise the dose to healthy tissue.
Image · placeholderPatient using breath-hold spirometer during treatment
SBRT · Cost & insurance
Is SBRT covered?
SBRT is generally covered under Medisave and MediShield Life for approved indications, and under major Integrated Shield Plans. Out-of-pocket costs vary based on case complexity and your specific plan.
We provide a written cost estimate at consultation, before any treatment begins. If you'd like our care coordinator to verify coverage with your insurer in advance, just ask.
Image · placeholderAARO specialists at the Centre for Stereotactic Radiosurgery
SBRT · Your specialists
Meet Dr Daniel Tan→
Who delivers SBRT at AARO.
Each AARO specialist delivers SBRT within their sub-specialty focus. Dr Daniel Tan leads brain, spine and oligometastatic-disease cases. Dr David Tan and Dr Jonathan Teh handle prostate and pelvic SBRT. Dr Michelle Tseng covers thoracic SBRT.
Dr Daniel TanSRS · SBRT · Brain · Spine · Oligomets
Dr Jonathan TehProstate · Breast · Gynaecological
Dr Michelle TsengLung · Thoracic · Head & Neck
Dr David TanGU · Prostate
Want to know if SBRT is right for you?
Book a 45–60 minute specialist consultation. We'll review your imaging, explain whether SBRT applies to your case, and answer your questions.