Eating well when you have a cancer diagnosis is very important. Good nutrition supports the body's ability to repair itself allowing you to recover quicker from the effects of cancer treatments.

Some advice on how to eat well when you have cancer can be found on the Wessex Cancer Alliance Resource page here​.

Information to help with eating problems​

Treatments for cancer such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy can cause difficulty in eating and weight loss. We recommend the following resources to support you in gaining weight and maintaining your calorie intake.​

Cancer and weight loss - the building-up diet | Macmillan Cancer Support​

Eating problems | Macmillan Cancer Support​

Dietician Support Contact Number​

If you are a radiotherapy patient and need further advice on nutrition, or you are struggling with eating you can contact the dieticians on 0300 019 2129.

Radiotherapy is a treatment used to target cancers (and some benign conditions).

It works by using high energy radiation to penetrate and destroy cells within an accurately planned area of the body.

Treatments can be delivered over a number of days (fractions). Normal cells have the ability to repair, but abnormal cells such as cancer cells are destroyed over time. Rest days are built into the course of treatment to enable healthy cells to recover.

Radiation dose is prescribed to a precisely targeted area. The plan is specific to each patient. There are many different treatment schedules. The number of treatments required will be guided the type of cancer that you have.

Why is Radiotherapy Used?​

Radiotherapy is often given alongside other forms of cancer treatment such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, surgery and immunotherapy. It can also be given alone.

We can use radiotherapy to:​

• Prevent recurring cancer or cure cancer (radical radiotherapy)​
• Control (slow down) the growth of cancer​
• Relieve the symptoms of cancer (palliative radiotherapy)​

If you need radiotherapy, an oncology specialist will consult with you. They will discuss the intended outcome, risks and benefits and you will have an opportunity to ask questions before you decide to go ahead.

More information coming soon.

Our address

The Robert White Radiotherapy Centre (RWRC)​
Robert White Building,​​
Dorset County Hospital​​
Williams Avenue Dorchester​​
Dorset​​
DT1 2JY​

Location and parking

The radiotherapy department is situated on the ground floor of the Robert White Building. We are behind the north wing of the main hospital in a standalone building.

Download our patient information leaflet about our location and parking here.

Public transport links – link here​​

Hospital transport – link here​

Radiotherapy Equipment at RWRC​

• One linear accelerator treatment machine called​
  • West Bay