SBRT is usually an outpatient procedure. This means you likely won't need to stay in the hospital after treatment.

Each treatment takes 30 to 60 minutes. Ask a member of your healthcare team if you'll need to have someone with you.

SBRT is not painful. You lie still on a treatment table while the machine moves around you to deliver radiation. You can talk to your care team during treatment. Your care team monitors you closely.

All SBRT delivers focused high-dose radiation to the treatment target while limiting the radiation to nearby healthy tissue. The high dose of radiation allows treatment to be delivered in fewer treatments than traditional radiation.

The radiation works over a period of time to control the treated target. The full effects of SBRT may continue to develop over weeks to months after treatment is completed.

Most people can return to their usual activities within a day or two, depending on how they feel.

Before the procedure

Your healthcare team takes several steps before stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Steps might include:

• Body positioning. To target your treatment exactly, you need to remain in one position and stay completely still. Your healthcare team finds the best position for your body. Often this involves using custom devices to hold you in place and keep you comfortable.
• Target positioning. Markers help target treatment. Often, tattoos on the skin keep the area marked for repeated treatments. Sometimes it's necessary to place a small metal marker, known as a fiducial marker, in or near the tumor. The fiducial marker is about the size of a grain of rice.
• Imaging. Once you're in place, imaging scans get information about your tumor, including location, size and shape. A scan also can show how the tumor moves while you breathe. Sometimes, the information gathered might show that you might need to hold your breath for 10 to 30 seconds at a time during treatment to keep the tumor still.
• Planning. Your healthcare team uses the imaging scans and specialized software to plan the best approach to treatment to meet your needs.

During the procedure

If you feel anxious, talk with your care team before treatment. Team members can explain what to expect and help you feel more comfortable. You may be offered medicine to help you relax.

After the procedure

After the procedure, you can expect the following:

• If you have symptoms such as a temporary increase in pain or nausea, ask for medicines to treat them.
• You'll be able to eat and drink after the procedure.
• Usually, you can go home the same day.
• You can usually get back to regular activities within a day or two.