Radiation Oncology

Our Radiation Oncology specialty features the latest equipment and state-of-the-art technology to provide premier services. We provide a range of services including:

• consultation and radiation treatment planning
• external-beam therapy
• brachytherapy
• stereotactic radiotherapy
• Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
• therapeutic radioisotope administration

• research protocol administration
• ongoing follow-up care
• treatment of malignant and non-malignant conditions

In addition, the Center is tied to a comprehensive network of diagnostic, laboratory, x-ray, and treatment facilities, as well as nutritional, pastoral care, home health care, psychological support, and physical therapy services.

Research

The Baptist Cancer Institute is dedicated to providing opportunities for our patients to participate in a tremendous number of cancer research trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and numerous other leading institutions and organizations. These research organizations include the:

Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG)

Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)

Children's Oncology Group (COG)

National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP)

Radiation Therapy

Radiation Therapy uses a type of x-ray or special particles in the treatment of cancer patients. These x-rays can be given in two ways:

1. External-beam radiation uses a powerful machine called a linear accelerator.
2. Brachytherapy can also be administered, which involves an internal radiation treatment delivered via temporary or permanent radioactive implants using solid or liquid sources such as radium cesium, iridium, iodine, palladium, californium, or strontium.

Why Radiation?

Radiation therapy has been used in the treatment of both benign and malignant tumors since 1896, when Marie Curie used a plaster containing the newly discovered element radium to treat a large skin cancer. Sophisticated machines like the linear accelerator used today were developed initially in the 1950's. They have been continually improved and modified into their current appearance, replete with fancy gadgets such as multi-leaf collimators which allow 3-dimensional and intensity-modulated radiation beam ports, as well as portal vision allowing us to see areas being treated as the beam is on. The beams are aimed using high-powered computer programs to the exact areas requiring treatment.

Radiation works by impairing the ability of the cancer cells to grow and divide. Fortunately, cancer cells are more sensitive to the effects of radiation than surrounding normal cells. By carefully arranging the radiation beams, a broader area can be treated than with a surgeon's knife alone, while at the same time limiting the significant side effects to a degree not possible with body-wide therapies such as chemotherapy.

In many cases, radiation therapy is adequate to treat the cancer by itself. In others, combinations of radiation with surgery or with chemotherapy give better results. As a result of the effects of radiation on the cancer, the tumor will usually shrink, pressure is reduced on surrounding tissues, bleeding is stopped, pain is reduced, etc.