Radiation Oncology 

The Process of Using Radiation to Treat Your Cancer

Radiation oncology uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells. There are different ways that we can deliver radiation.

A radiation oncologist is a cancer doctor specializing in using radiation to treat cancer. Our process starts with a consultation visit to determine if radiation is the right treatment for you, and if so, how can we best deliver it. At that visit, you will have an explanation from the radiation oncologist and you will meet the radiation nurse.  If you and the doctor agree, then the nurse will go over the consent form to allow us to start the process.

The next step for external beam radiation is a series of CT, MRI, or Pet scans to help the radiation oncologist pinpoint your cancer and come up with a plan on how to maximize the dose to the cancer and minimize the dose to your normal tissues. Dosimetrists then assist with developing the plan and the physicists ensure that the plan can be delivered as ordered. This process can take from a day for simple treatments to 10 days for more complex plans in hard-to-treat areas.

When you come for treatment, you will meet your radiation therapist team of highly trained professionals who will deliver the treatments. They will give you a schedule, but be aware that our physicists test the linear accelerator (treatment machine) daily to ensure it is perfect. If it is not treatment is delayed until the physicist is satisfied that your treatment will be exactly what the doctor ordered.  Because we have two identical top-of-the-line accelerators, called TrueBeams, it is rare that we must delay treatment for more than a few hours.

Your first day of treatment will take about an hour, but after that it should just take 15-20 minutes. You might feel a little tired after a treatment but other symptoms are rare.  For example, unless we must radiate your stomach, you should not have nausea. If you have any symptoms, either during or after treatment, please notify the therapist or your radiation nurse or call the practice.

Getting external beam radiation treatments do not make you radioactive, so you are safe to be around family.

External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT)

EBRT is the most common type of cancer treating radiation. It uses a machine to precisely target and destroy cancer cells with high-energy X-rays. This outpatient treatment is typically given five a week for several weeks.

Key benefits:

• Highly effective: Precisely targets and kills cancer cells.
• Minimally invasive: Outpatient treatment with no incisions.
• Versatile: Can be used for various cancer types and stages.
• Combined therapies: Often used in conjunction with surgery, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy.
• Improved quality of life: Can help relieve pain and other symptoms caused by cancer.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Stereotactic radiosurgery is a type of external beam radiation where very high doses can be pinpointed directly to the tumor and is optimal for certain tumor types. It generally requires only 3-5 treatments and is well tolerated. Your radiation oncologist will decide if this is the best choice for you, and answer any questions.

High-Dose Rate Radiation (HDR)

This is a type of radiation performed as a procedure here in the office, and sometimes requires sedation.  A radioactive source is placed in your body next to the cancer, and left for a period of time needed to deliver the dose. Your radiation oncologist will determine if this is right for you. It is most commonly used for cervical, endometrial skin or breast cancers

AlignRT Precision Radiation Therapy, Mark and Tattoo-Free

Experience advanced cancer care with our state-of-the-art external beam radiation therapy. Unlike traditional methods, we eliminate the need for permanent tattoos or marks using Surface Guided Radiation Therapy (SGRT). Our advanced technology precisely targets tumors with minimal impact on healthy tissue.

From early-stage to advanced cancers, we create personalized treatment plans in collaboration with your doctor. Our focus is on both curative treatments and managing pain.

Enjoy a comfortable and accurate treatment experience with our tattoo-free approach, advanced imaging technology, and safety features that pause treatment if you move unexpectedly.

Ideal For:

• Tattoo-free treatment
• Precise targeting with SGRT
• Personalized treatment plans
• Comfort and safety prioritized

Key benefits:

• Highly effective: Precisely targets and kills cancer cells.
• Minimally invasive: Outpatient treatment with no incisions.
• Versatile: Can be used for various cancer types and stages.
• Combined therapies: Often used in conjunction with surgery, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy.
• Improved quality of life: Can help relieve pain and other symptoms caused by cancer.

Radiopharmaceuticals Targeted Therapy for Advanced Cancers

In addition to traditional radiation therapy, we specialize in a cutting-edge treatment called radiopharmaceutical therapy. This involves using targeted radioactive medications to fight cancer.

Ideal for:

• Thyroid cancer
• Metastatic bone cancer
• Especially metastatic prostate cancer that has spread to lymph nodes, bones, or other areas and hasn't responded to standard treatments.

Key benefits:

• Precision targeting: These medications deliver radiation directly to cancer cells, minimizing harm to healthy tissue.
• Proven effectiveness: Clinical studies have shown improved survival rates with minimal side effects.

The unique aspects of these treatments are that they are ‘targeted’ to only the prostate cancer cells and provide radiation just to the cancer cells killing them. These drugs have been proven to improve survival with a low side effect profile.

 If you fall into either of these categories, please talk to your medical or radiation oncologist. They can determine if radiopharmaceutical therapy is the right course of action for you and can arrange treatment in  our radiation oncology department.