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Rhenium SCT® is a non invasive one-time treatment

Rhenium‑SCT® is a non‑invasive one-time treatment that uses a radiotherapeutic paste to treat superficial (<3mm deep) non‑melanoma skin cancers, including:

  • Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
  • Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)

It provides an effective option for lesions where surgery or external beam radiotherapy can be difficult or undesirable.
Rhenium SCT diagram

How does Rhenium SCT® work?

It delivers localised beta radiation to the lesion in the form of a radioactive paste.

The radiation is delivered locally  with minimal impact on surrounding healthy tissue, making it especially suitable for delicate areas like the face and hands.

The radiation penetrates only a few millimetres into the skin and precisely targets cancer cells.

How long does the treatment take?

Treatment is completed in a single session, typically lasting between 30 and 180 minutes . For most patients, one treatment is all that’s needed.

Re SCT patient flyer img 01

Lesion demarkated

Re SCT patient flyer img 02

Lesion covered with a plastic film and radioactive paste applied

Re SCT patient flyer img 03

Plastic film and radioactive paste removed

Are there any side effects to Rhenium SCT®?

The treatment is not painful and is well tolerated with minimal side effects. As the treated area reacts to the radiation applied it becomes red and forms moist and then dry scabbing as part of the healing process. The treated area often has a slightly lighter skin tone after healing has occurred. Healing typically occurs 30–90 days after treatment with Rhenium-SCT but may take longer depending on factors such as the size, depth, and location of the tumour and your general health.

Please contact our team at Canopy Imaging Murray Place to discuss available treatment options and to see if this therapy is right for you.
FAQs

While Rhenium-SCT® treatment involves exposure to very localised radiation, almost none penetrates deeper than 3–4 mm from the skin surface. The application process is designed to spare healthy tissue around the tumour.

As with all radiation-based procedures, there is a slight risk of infection, or radiation-induced ulcers.

The treatment is painless. Over a few weeks localised redness and a scab will develop. This is a sign that the cancer cells are dying, the body is shedding them, and healing with new skin is occurring. Some patients will experience itching and/or mild pain during the healing process. The lesion will initially look worse before healing. Your doctor will monitor the healing process at follow-up visits
and advise you how to look after your skin as it heals.

When healing is complete, the treated area may look a bit lighter, smooth and hairless. The procedure results in little to no scarring.