Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy x-rays that target specific cancer sites. Our advanced technology allows us to precisely aim the radiation at the tumor while avoiding damage to the normal, healthy cells. Radiation may be used to destroy cancer cells, relieve symptoms associated with cancer, and/or prevent the cancer from returning.
Your treatment is custom-tailored and unique to your diagnosis, tumor size, location and involvement. Your radiation oncologist (a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with radiation) will review all available treatment options and recommend a personalized plan for you based on national guidelines, which guide all cancer treatments. Radiation therapy is used either alone or in combination with other treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery.
Radiation can be delivered either from outside the body with a machine called a linear accelerator (external beam radiation) or from a radiation source implanted permanently or temporarily in the body (brachytherapy).
Different types of radiation – such as SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy), SRS (Stereotactic Radiosurgery), 3-D CRT (3 Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy), IGRT (Image Guided Radiation Therapy), IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy), Partial Breast Irradiation, and HDR (High Dose Radiation Therapy), as well as radiopharmaceuticals – are used to treat specific types of cancers.