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Radiation Oncology
Treatment Technologies
External Beam Radiation Therapy
Treatment plans and technologies are customized here at the
Dorcy Cancer Center to each patient’s individual needs,
incorporating a highly effective dose of radiation to destroy
cancer cells while sparing surrounding healthy tissue. Depending
on the location, size and type of tumor, treatment may include
one or more therapies featuring various forms of external beam
radiation, and or brachytherapy, an internal treatment technique.
External beam radiation therapy is directed from a machine
outside the patient’s body, and is as painless as getting an x-ray.
A linear accelerator produces high energy x-rays, and with
sophisticated software technology the beam is shaped and
directed to the treatment area.
Your radiation oncologist will determine if the type of treatment
technique that is right for you.
Treatment Technologies
Stereotactic Radiosurgery
This ultimate cancer fighting technology attacks hard to reach
tumors and offers a non-surgical alternative to cancer treatment
with no incisions, anesthesia or inpatient hospital stay.
Stereotactic radiosurgery delivers radiation using a powerful
focused beam with pinpoint accuracy and can treat tumors
previously thought to be inoperable including brain, head and
neck, liver, lung, pancreas, and spine. These treatments are
given in as few as 1 to 5 treatments with each session lasting 30
to 45 minutes. Treatments are performed on an outpatient basis
with minimal recovery time and post treatment complications,
with patients returning to normal activities almost immediately.
Your Physician will determine if you are a candidate for
stereotactic radiosurgery.
Treatment Technologies
Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy
(3D-CRT)
Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT) uses
sophisticated computer software and scans including CT, MRI or
PET to create detailed, three-dimensional images of tumors. With
this advanced technology, radiation oncologists can control the
shape of radiation beams that conform to the precise size and
shape of tumors while maintaining the integrity of surrounding
healthy tissue.
Treatment Technologies
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
A specialized form of 3D-CRT, Intensity Modulated Radiation
Therapy (IMRT) allows even more precise control of the radiation
beam than 3D-CRT since the radiation is broken up into
“beamlets” and the intensity of each beamlet can be adjusted
individually. IMRT allows the radiation dose to be optimally
shaped to fit the tumor avoiding nearby organs or sensitive areas,
at the same time delivering high doses while decreasing the
effect on healthy tissue.
Treatment Technologies
Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) is an advanced type of
conformal radiation therapy treatments that are guided by
imaging equipment that utilizes CT or stereotactic x-rays. This
follows the Physicians to fuse images taken prior to treatment
with real time images during treatment to detect and compensate
for even the slightest movement of the treatment area between
procedures. Images taken during the course of treatment are
compared to those captured during treatment planning, thus
tracking changes in the patients body or position that could shift
the location of the treatment area. This degree of accuracy is
very effective in cancer treatment management.
Treatment Technologies
Brachytherapy Treatments
Brachytherapy is also known as internal radiation therapy or
implant radiation therapy. Brachytherapy may be used in
conjunction with external beam radiation therapies. Depending
on the type of cancer, radioactive sources may be implanted
within the body temporarily or permanently with most treatments
being temporary high dose rate implants. Brachytherapy allows
for a large dose of radiation to be applied at the source of the
cancer with minimal effects on healthy tissue. Patients may
receive several treatments over a number of days or weeks,
usually with little discomfort and the ability to return home shortly
after the procedure.