Dr Irene Hitchin – Clinical & Radiation Oncologist – Panorama

Dr Irene Hitchin – Clinical & Radiation Oncologist – Panorama

Dr Irene Hitchin is a Clinical & Radiation Oncologist at Cancercare Panorama. Moreover, she earned her MBChB from the University of Cape Town in 2006. Subsequently, she completed an MMed (Radiation Oncology) at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2015. In 2016, she achieved Fellowship status (FC Rad Onc) through the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa.

During her registrar training at Tygerberg Hospital, she mastered both external-beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy techniques. Furthermore, she serves on the provincial guideline committee for image-guided therapies, ensuring her practice aligns with the latest oncology standards. Outside the clinic, she volunteers in community cancer-awareness programmes. Meanwhile, she maintains resilience through yoga and nature photography, pursuits that nurture both her focus and empathy.

Services

Dr Hitchin offers a comprehensive suite of clinical oncology and radiation oncology services, each designed for precision, safety, and comfort.

• External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT) – delivers 3D conformal and Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) via advanced linear accelerators to target tumours precisely, while sparing healthy tissue.

• Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) – uses daily CT or X-ray verification to adapt beam alignment for patient-specific anatomy, which enhances treatment accuracy.

• Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) – provides high-dose, hypofractionated treatments for small lung, liver, and spine lesions in fewer sessions, thereby reducing patient visits.

• High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy – places internal radioactive sources for prostate, cervical, and select head-and-neck cancers, enabling rapid dose fall-off around the tumour.

• Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) – offers frameless, single-fraction, high-precision treatments for brain metastases and intracranial lesions with submillimetre accuracy.

• Adaptive Radiotherapy – modifies treatment plans based on interim imaging to account for tumour shrinkage and anatomical shifts.

• Palliative Radiotherapy – designs symptom-relief protocols that alleviate pain, control bleeding, and improve quality of life in advanced disease.

• Combination Therapy Coordination – integrates chemotherapy schedules with radiotherapy in close collaboration with medical oncologists, ensuring synergistic effects.

• Supportive Care Consultations – provides personalised management of side effects, nutritional guidance, and psychosocial support referrals.

Each service employs Oncentra treatment-planning software and surface-guided motion management to maximise both safety and efficacy.

Additional Information

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

Moreover, a secure digital patient portal enables online appointment booking, access to treatment summaries, and prompt notifications of imaging or pathology results. Consequently, patients enjoy streamlined communication and reduced administrative delays. On-site counselling rooms, support groups, and nutritional workshops foster holistic wellness. Furthermore, multilingual staff provide consultations in English, Afrikaans, and isiXhosa, ensuring clear dialogue across diverse communities.

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