Dr Rika Pienaar – Clinical & Radiation Oncologist – Panorama

Dr Rika Pienaar - Clinical & Radiation Oncologist - Panorama

Dr Rika Pienaar is a Clinical & Radiation Oncologist leading oncology care at Cancercare Panorama in the northern suburbs of Cape Town. Moreover, she brings over 15 years of specialised expertise to her practice, having completed her MBChB at the University of Pretoria in 2005 and her MMed (Radiation Oncology) at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2012. In addition, she earned Fellowship status (FC Rad Onc) from the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa in 2013.

During her registrar training at Tygerberg Hospital, Dr Pienaar mastered both external and internal radiotherapy techniques. Consequently, she developed a particular interest in image-guided treatments and brachytherapy. Furthermore, she contributes to national guideline committees and regularly presents her research on patient-tailored dose modulation. Outside the clinic, she volunteers in community cancer-awareness programmes and enjoys trail running and landscape painting, pursuits that sharpen her focus and sustain her empathetic approach.

Services

Dr Pienaar offers a full suite of clinical oncology and radiation oncology services, each delivered with precision technology and compassionate support:

• External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT) – advanced linear accelerators deliver 3D conformal and Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT), ensuring high-dose targeting of tumours with minimal healthy-tissue exposure.

• Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) – incorporates daily CT or X-ray verification to adapt beam alignment for anatomical changes, thereby improving accuracy.

• Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) – high-precision, hypofractionated treatments for small lung, liver, and spine lesions, reducing overall treatment time.

• High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy – internal radiation for prostate, cervical, and select head-and-neck cases, which enables dose escalation directly into the tumour.

• Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) – single-fraction, high-dose treatments for brain metastases and other intracranial targets, maximising tumour control.

• Adaptive Radiotherapy – daily plan adjustments based on imaging feedback, which accommodates tumour shrinkage and patient-specific anatomical shifts.

• Palliative Radiotherapy – symptom-relief protocols for advanced-stage disease, improving quality of life by alleviating pain and obstruction.

• Combination Therapy Coordination – integrated chemo-radiation schedules in collaboration with medical oncologists for synergistic treatment effects.

• Supportive Care Consultations – personalised symptom management including pain control, nutritional guidance, and psychosocial support referrals.

Each service utilises Oncentra treatment-planning software and surface-guided motion management to enhance both safety and comfort.

Additional Information

Cancercare Panorama features dedicated radiotherapy bunkers, a state-of-the-art CT simulator, and private consultation suites designed for patient confidentiality and ease. Furthermore, a weekly Multidisciplinary Tumour Board—including surgeons, medical oncologists, physicists, and nursing specialists—reviews every case to refine personalised care pathways.

Patients access a secure digital patient portal for appointment scheduling, online treatment overviews, and prompt notifications of imaging or pathology results. Consequently, they benefit from streamlined communication and minimal administrative delays. Additionally, Cancercare offers on-site counselling rooms, support groups, and nutritional workshops, fostering holistic wellness. Multilingual staff provide consultations in English, Afrikaans, and isiXhosa, ensuring clear communication across diverse communities.

Dr Pienaar’s patient-first philosophy emphasises shared decision-making, empathetic support, and tailored follow-up plans. Therefore, schedule a consultation today to experience precise, compassionate oncology care that truly makes a difference.