Superficial Radiation Therapy (SRT) for Skin Cancer

What is Superficial Radiation Therapy (SRT)?

Superficial Radiation Therapy, sometimes called surface radiotherapy or superficial radiotherapy, is a gentle, non‑surgical treatment used to address certain skin cancers and other surface‑level skin conditions. Instead of cutting, stitches, or anesthesia, SRT uses specialized, low‑energy X‑rays that work just under the skin’s surface to treat abnormal cells. These soft X‑rays are very different from the stronger radiation often used in hospital cancer treatments and only penetrate slightly into the skin, typically no more than a few millimeters deep, which protects the deeper, healthy tissue underneath.

How It Works

During SRT, the physician places a small applicator over the treatment site and delivers precisely focused, low‑energy radiation directly to the affected area. Because the energy level is carefully controlled, the radiation targets only the top layers of the skin where most early skin cancers develop, making it effective while limiting exposure below the surface skin layer.  

Treatment sessions are usually quick, painless, and done in an outpatient setting . Most take just a few minutes, and you can go right back to your day afterward. There’s no surgical wound to care for, and you won’t need general anesthesia or stitches.  Because SRT is so targeted and shallow in depth, it spares deeper tissues and structures, helping reduce side effects and preserve healthy skin around the treatment area.

Why Choose SRT?

SRT may be recommended if:

• You have a common type of surface skin cancer such as basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma.

• You’d like a non‑invasive option that doesn’t involve cutting or traditional surgery.
  
  

What to Expect

Most patients receive a series of SRT sessions, with each session lasting just a few minutes. These sessions are typically scheduled a few times per week for approximately eight weeks, depending on your individualized treatment plan. Aftercare is simple, and most people return to normal activities right away.  Side effects are usually mild and limited to the treatment site, such as temporary redness, dryness, or a light sunburn‑like reaction, which gradually improve after treatment ends. 

A Less “Scary” Way to Treat Skin Cancer

We understand that phrases like “radiation therapy” can sound intimidating. That’s why it helps to know that superficial radiation therapy uses soft, low‑energy X‑rays, not deep or aggressive radiation, and it is designed specifically to treat issues right at or near the skin surface,  much more gently than radiation used for internal cancers.

Call our office

Schedule an appointment with us to determine if SRT is the right choice for your situation.