Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses high doses of radiation to slow, stop or destroy cancer cells. Today’s advanced radiation therapy treatments are extremely precise, targeting only a designated area. Your radiation oncologist will help determine which type of radiation will benefit you the most.

Types of Radiation 

Through the new Trilogy linear accelerator, we offer advanced radiation services, including:

• 3D conformal radiation therapy shapes radiation beams to match the shape of the tumor. This treatment is often used on irregularly-shaped tumors or tumors that are close to healthy tissues and organs. The precise nature of the technology means radiation exposure to healthy tissues is limited.
• Calypso 4D Localization System
• Electron beam radiation therapy is used to treat skin lymphoma. Because the electrons do not go deep into your body, damage to surrounding tissues is reduced.
• External beam radiation uses a linear accelerator machine to direct high-energy rays into the tumor. External radiation usually requires many daily treatments over a period of time, although some newer treatments give bigger doses over a shorter period of time. During the first appointment, which can last up to two hours, staff precisely maps the treatment area, which helps reduce the risk of radiating normal surrounding tissue, which is one side effect of external radiation.
• High- and low-energy photon therapy uses X-rays to deliver radiation close to the surface of the body. The ray goes into the tumor and through the body.
• Intensity modulated radiation therapy uses computer-generated 3D images to help radiation oncologists plan and deliver targeted radiation that minimizes damage to healthy tissue.
• Internal radiation, or brachytherapy uses a tiny radioactive implant placed directly into or near the tumor to deliver a high dose of radiation. Precise delivery means damage to nearby healthy tissue is reduce. Another form of internal radiation therapy uses unsealed radioactive sources taken by mouth or injection.
• Image guided radiation therapy uses specialized images, taken right before treatment starts, to precisely guide the radiation beam to the tumor.
• Radioisotope therapy uses iodine to help locate and identify cancer cells.
• Stereotactic body radiation therapy uses beams of different intensities to deliver high doses of radiation at various angles to small, precisely mapped and well-defined tumors over the course of one to five treatments.
• Stereotactic radiosurgery is a highly precise form of radiation therapy that mainly treats small brain tumors and brain abnormalities.