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Two types of cancer treatments – radiation therapy and chemotherapy – are available at Roy Richards Sr. Cancer Center.
Radiation therapy uses X-rays to treat cancer. Given at appropriate levels and carefully aimed and timed, radiation destroys the ability of cells to grow. While both normal and cancerous cells are affected, most normal cells can recover quickly.
Tanner Medical Center offers various types of radiation therapy:
External Beam radiation therapy (EBRT)
EBRT is a high-energy radiation that is directed to a localized area. The beam is created in a machine called a linear accelerator and directed through the skin to the cancer. During treatment, the patient lies on a table like when getting an X-ray. EBRT destroys cancer cells and any normal cells in the treatment field. Radiation is typically administered in small doses for six to eight weeks. No pain is involved in receiving EBRT. Daily treatments take about 10 minutes.
Three-Dimensional Conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT)
A type of EBRT, 3D-CRT uses state-of-the-art computers in conjunction with CT scans to create a digitally reconstructed 3-D image of the tumor and surrounding normal tissue. Radiation oncologists can thus shape and direct the treatment field more precisely to better target the cancer and spare the normal tissue, thereby reducing radiation side effects.
Intensity Modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
Another type of EBRT, IMRT is a more sophisticated form of 3D-CRT. Not only is the beam shaped more accurately to form the shape of the tumor, but the intensity of radiation coming from the machine is also varied during a single treatment. This increases normal tissue sparing and allows higher radiation doses to the cancer, thus increasing chance of cure. Since not all cancers may be treated with IMRT or 3D-CRT, the appropriate treatment is at the physician’s discretion.
Superficial radiation therapy
Skin cancer is treated with a dedicated orthovoltage treatment machine. Lower energy radiation is used to treat only the affected layers of the skin. At Tanner, we have a very successful cure rate and excellent cosmetic results with our skin cancer treatment.
Prostate Seed Implant
This type of radiation treatment is internal treatment for prostate cancer and is usually used with external beam radiation at the end of the treatment course. During prostate seed implant treatment, radioactive seeds of Palladium (Pd 103) are inserted directly into the prostate under general anesthesia. The patient usually stays in an observation bed for several hours after the procedure and is sent home the same day. Both a radiation oncologist and urologist are involved in this treatment.
High Dose Rate Brachytherapy (HDR)
This form of Radiation Therapy uses a radioactive source that is placed inside the body part to be treated. A high dose of radiation is given to a limited area, sparing the surrounding normal tissue. HDR brachytherapy lasts only a few minutes in the outpatient setting and causes little discomfort. It can be used in the treatment of gynecological cancers, and esophageal cancers. Other local regional tumors can be considered for HDR brachytherapy on an individual basis.
HDR Brachytherapy is used alone or combined with other treatment modalities, such as external beam radiation. You and your physician will decide your optimal course of treatment. Like many other radiation treatments, High Dose Rate Brachytherapy uses a radioactive source to eliminate cancerous cells. This treatment is performed with greater precision and shorter treatment times than other procedures. A precise dosage of radiation, as prescribed by your physician, is automatically delivered through an applicator which is positioned within the body. The radiation treatment staff monitors your treatment and maintains contact with you throughout the procedure. The treatment is completely safe and painless. After your treatment, the system returns the radioactive source into the protective storage unit of the remote afterloading machine. Depending on the treatment site, you should be able to return home and to normal activity immediately following your treatment. There are no side effects following this procedure. The treatment normally requires no special dietary considerations or pre-treatment preparations. You are not radioactive after the treatment.
MammoSite
This is a form of partial breast irradiation. It works by delivering radiation from inside the lumpectomy cavity (the space that is left after the tumor is removed) directly to the tissue surrounding the cavity where cancer is most likely to recur. Radiation therapy with MammoSite can be completed in 5 days, allowing you to get back to your life. A soft balloon attached to a thin catheter (tube) is placed inside the lumpectomy cavity. In order to deliver radiation, a tiny radioactive source, called a seed, is placed within the balloon by a computer-controlled machine. Because the seed is inside the balloon, radiation is directed only to the area of your breast where cancer is most likely to recur or return. When used as primary therapy- the only form of radiation following a lumpectomy- you would receive treatment twice a day for 5 days. If your doctor feels that whole breast external beam radiation is more appropriate for you, MammoSite may be used as boost therapy. In this case, you would receive MammoSite treatment for 1 to 2 days.
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