Treating Cancer Dr Prinitha Pillay Oncologist

15/09/2026

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15/09/2026

Returning to Work

Going back to work isn’t just about your job. Sometimes it’s about finding your rhythm again.

For some people, returning to work after cancer treatment can provide structure and a sense of normality. For others, returning too soon may feel overwhelming.

There is no one-size-fits-all timeline.

Work can mean different things to different people.

It can provide:

• Structure
• Financial security
• Social connection
• Purpose
• Independence
• A sense of normality

But returning to work after cancer treatment can also bring uncertainty.

Will I have enough energy?

Will people treat me differently?

Will I be able to manage my responsibilities?

What if I need time off for appointments or follow-up care?

The right time to return depends on the individual and may be influenced by the type of cancer, treatment received, side effects, physical recovery, emotional wellbeing and the nature of the job.

A gradual return or adjustments to working hours or responsibilities may sometimes make the transition easier.

Most importantly, returning to work is not a test of how well you’ve recovered.

Your body may still be healing.

Your emotions may still be catching up.

Give yourself permission to find a pace that is realistic for you.

And remember, needing support does not mean you’re not strong enough.

It means you’re human. 💛

If you’ve returned to work after cancer treatment, what helped make that transition easier?

With Love and care, Always.
Dr. Prinitha Pillay

14/09/2026

CANCER DOESN’T STOP LIFE

Finding Your New Normal

Cancer can change your life without becoming your entire identity.

This week, we’re talking about the parts of life that continue, change, and sometimes begin again after a cancer diagnosis.

Who Are You Beyond Your Diagnosis?

You are a person before you are a patient. And you are still that person after your diagnosis. 💛

A cancer diagnosis can quickly become the first thing people see when they look at you.

But it is not the whole story of who you are.

When you hear the words “you have cancer,” life can suddenly become filled with appointments, scans, treatment plans, medications and medical conversations.

And somewhere amongst all of that, it can become easy to forget the person at the centre of it all.

You.

You are still the person who loves certain people, enjoys certain things, has dreams, responsibilities, memories, quirks and plans.

Cancer may become part of your story.

It does not have to become your entire identity.

Finding your new normal may mean reconnecting with the things that remind you who you are outside the treatment room.

Maybe that’s your work.

Your music.

Your faith.

Your friendships.

Your family.

Your creativity.

Your pets.

Your sense of humour.

Or simply having an ordinary day where cancer isn’t the main topic of conversation.

There is no correct way to “get back to yourself.”

Sometimes finding yourself again happens slowly, in small moments.

And those moments matter.

What is one part of yourself that you never want cancer to take away?

With Love and care, Always.
Dr. Prinitha Pillay

13/09/2026

What Happens After Your Final Session?

Your final radiation session is an important milestone—but your care doesn’t simply end there. 🌅

Finishing radiation therapy can bring relief, excitement, uncertainty—or a mixture of all three. So what happens next?

When you finish your final radiation treatment, you may feel a whole range of emotions.

Relief. Happiness. Exhaustion. Uncertainty. Even a little fear.

All of these feelings can be part of the experience.

But one thing is important to understand:

Your last radiation treatment isn’t necessarily the end of your cancer care.

Your radiation oncology team may arrange follow-up appointments to:

🩺 Assess how you’re recovering
📋 Review ongoing or delayed side effects
🔎 Monitor your response to treatment
📅 Plan appropriate follow-up care
🤝 Coordinate care with your other doctors

Some side effects may continue for a period after treatment finishes, while others improve gradually.

Your follow-up schedule depends on your diagnosis, treatment and individual circumstances.

This is also a good time to ask:

“What should I expect over the next few weeks?”

“Which symptoms should I report?”

“When will I see you again?”

“What happens next in my overall treatment plan?”

And remember—finishing treatment doesn’t mean you suddenly have to know how to navigate everything on your own.

Your healthcare team remains part of your journey.

💬 What would you want someone to tell you about life after your final radiation session?

🌻 Every ending can also mark the beginning of a new chapter in your care.

Let’s take the fear out of the unknown.

This week isn’t about telling every patient exactly what their treatment will look like—because radiation therapy is individualised.

It’s about helping patients understand the journey

With Love and care, Always.
Dr. Prinitha Pillay

12/09/2026

Radiation Therapy: Myth vs Reality

“Radiation will make me radioactive.” “It burns your body.” “It always causes severe side effects.” 🤔 Let’s separate fact from fiction.

There are many misconceptions about radiation therapy. Understanding what’s true—and what’s not—can help reduce unnecessary fear.

Let’s clear up a few common misconceptions:

❌ MYTH:

“External radiation makes me radioactive.”

✅ REALITY:

External-beam radiation therapy does not make you radioactive after your treatment session.

❌ MYTH:

“Radiation therapy always causes severe side effects.”

✅ REALITY:

Side effects vary depending on the treatment area, dose, technique and individual patient. Some people experience relatively few side effects.

❌ MYTH:

“Radiation treatment is painful.”

✅ REALITY:

The radiation itself isn’t felt during external-beam treatment. However, side effects that develop during a course of treatment can sometimes cause discomfort and should be discussed with your team.

❌ MYTH:

“Radiation is only used when cancer is advanced.”

✅ REALITY:

Radiation therapy can be used at different stages of cancer treatment and for different treatment goals.

❌ MYTH:

“Everyone gets the same radiation treatment.”

✅ REALITY:

Treatment is planned according to the individual patient’s cancer, anatomy, treatment goals and clinical circumstances.

The best way to understand your radiation treatment is to ask your radiation oncology team.

💬 Which radiation therapy myth surprised you the most?

Good information can replace fear with understanding.

With Love and care, Always.
Dr. Prinitha Pillay

11/09/2026

What Happens During a Radiation Session?

What actually happens when you lie on the treatment machine? Let’s take the mystery out of radiation therapy. 💚

Knowing what to expect on treatment day can make the experience feel less unfamiliar.

For many patients, the first treatment session can feel intimidating simply because they don’t know what to expect.

Here’s the general process:

1️⃣ You arrive and are prepared

Your radiation therapy team will make sure you are positioned correctly.

2️⃣ You are carefully positioned

The position used during your planning process is reproduced as accurately as possible.

3️⃣ The team checks your position

Imaging or other verification methods may be used to ensure you’re correctly aligned.

4️⃣ Your radiation therapists leave the treatment room

They need to be outside the room while the radiation is being delivered, but they can see and communicate with you.

5️⃣ Treatment is delivered

The radiation machine moves around you or into the required position and delivers the planned radiation.

6️⃣ You can go home

For many external-beam radiation treatments, the actual radiation delivery is relatively quick, although the overall appointment can take longer because positioning and checks are important.

One thing many patients are surprised to learn:

You do not feel the radiation being delivered.

And external-beam radiation therapy does not make you radioactive.

Your treatment team will explain your specific treatment process and what you should expect at each visit.

💬 Would knowing exactly what happens during a treatment session make you feel more comfortable?

🌻 Knowing what to expect can make the unfamiliar feel a little less frightening.

With Love and care, Always.
Dr. Prinitha Pillay

10/09/2026

Planning Your Radiation Treatment

Your first radiation treatment isn’t where the planning begins. 🎯

Before your first radiation treatment, your radiation oncology team spends significant time planning exactly how your treatment will be delivered.

One of the most important parts of radiation therapy happens before treatment begins.

This is the planning stage.

Your radiation oncology team may use imaging, such as a CT planning scan, to map the area that needs treatment.

Your radiation oncologist then works with the wider radiation therapy team to determine:

🎯 The treatment area
📐 The appropriate treatment position
💡 The radiation dose
🔄 How the dose will be divided across treatments
🛡️ How to minimise radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues
⚙️ Which radiation technique is most appropriate

Depending on your cancer and treatment plan, specialised techniques such as IMRT, VMAT, stereotactic radiation or DIBH may be considered.

You may also need to remain in a particular position or use an immobilisation device to help you stay still and reproducible during treatment.

This planning process is highly individualised.

Every fraction of radiation is part of a treatment plan designed specifically for you.

And sometimes, the most important work happens before you ever receive your first treatment.

💬 Did you know how much planning goes into radiation therapy before treatment starts?

📌 Save this post if radiation therapy is part of your treatment journey.

With Love and care, Always.
Dr. Prinitha Pillay

09/09/2026

Why Is Radiation Recommended?

“Why radiation?” It’s one of the most important questions you can ask your oncologist.

Radiation therapy can play very different roles in cancer treatment. Understanding why it has been recommended can help you understand your overall treatment plan.

When radiation therapy is recommended, the reason isn’t necessarily the same for every patient.

Your radiation oncologist considers factors such as:

• The type of cancer
• Where the cancer is located
• The size and extent of the disease
• The stage of the cancer
• Pathology results
• Previous or planned treatments
• Your overall health
• The intended goal of treatment

Depending on the situation, radiation may be recommended to:

🎯 Treat cancer directly
🎯 Reduce the risk of cancer returning
🎯 Shrink or control a tumour
🎯 Work together with another treatment
🎯 Relieve symptoms caused by cancer

This is why comparing your treatment plan with someone else’s can sometimes be misleading.

Two people may have the same cancer type but require very different approaches.

If radiation has been recommended for you, ask:

“What is the goal of radiation in my treatment?”

Understanding the why can make the rest of the treatment journey easier to understand.

💬 Do you always ask your doctor why a particular treatment has been recommended?

🌻 An informed patient is an empowered participant in their care.

With Love and care, Always.
Dr. Prinitha Pillay

07/09/2026

07/09/2026

LET’S TALK RADIATION THERAPY

Understanding What Happens Before, During & After Radiation

What Is Radiation Therapy?

Radiation therapy isn’t just “radiation.” So what actually happens? 🩵

Radiation therapy is an important treatment option for many cancers, but if you’ve never experienced it before, the idea can understandably feel unfamiliar.

Radiation therapy uses carefully planned, high-energy radiation to treat cancer.

The radiation is directed at a specific area of the body to damage the DNA of cancer cells, preventing them from continuing to grow and divide.

Radiation therapy can be used in different ways depending on the individual diagnosis.

It may be used:

🎯 As the main treatment for certain cancers.

🎯 Before surgery to shrink or control a tumour.

🎯 After surgery to reduce the risk of cancer returning in the treated area.

🎯 Together with other treatments, such as chemotherapy or other systemic therapies, when appropriate.

🎯 To relieve symptoms, such as pain or bleeding, in certain circumstances.

Radiation treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all.

The dose, number of treatments, treatment area and technique are carefully determined according to the individual patient and their cancer.

Modern radiation therapy can use sophisticated techniques to accurately deliver radiation to the intended area while limiting exposure to surrounding healthy tissues as much as possible.

And no—you don’t simply walk into a room and get “radiated.”

There is a detailed planning process behind every treatment course.

This week, we’ll take you through that journey.

💬 Before today, what did you think radiation therapy involved?

📌 Save this post—we’re taking you through radiation therapy one step at a time.

With Love and care, Always.
Dr. Prinitha Pillay