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CCSCI
Specialties:
Radiation Oncology
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What is Radiation
Oncology?
Radiation oncology is the treatment
of cancer with radiation. Radiation treatments can be used
to shrink a tumor, stop the growth of cancer cells, prevent
cancer from spreading, and reduce the symptoms of cancer.
Fifty to sixty percent of all patients diagnosed with cancer
receive radiation treatments.
The radiation oncology staff primarily
includes Radiation Therapists, Dosimetrists, and Radiation
Physicists (who are contracted). In addition, someone from
the radiation or nursing staff assesses patient progress
and sees patients on a regular basis.
Dosimetrists plan and calculate the proper
radiation dose for treatment. They use special, computerized
equipment to make a personalized treatment plan for each
patient. They also set up the treatment simulation which
includes marking the skin around the area to be treated
and assisting with special CT scans if needed.
Radiation therapists are specially trained
to run the equipment which delivers the radiation treatment.
They treat patients daily according to physician orders.
In addition, they provide patient education to patients
and their families and explain the treatment process.
Radiation physicists make sure the radiation
equipment is delivering the right amount of radiation to
the treatment site. They perform quality control tests,
measurements, and calculations to ensure patients receive
the correct radiation dosage and to ensure all radiation
equipment is operating properly.
Patients undergoing radiation treatment
are also seen by someone from the radiation or nursing staff
on a weekly basis to monitor their overall progress.
Radiation Oncology Services Provided At:
What will happen if you are referred
to CCSCI for Radiation Oncology Services?
Patients referred to CCSCI for
radiation therapy meet with a physician called a radiation
oncologist who will review their history and medical records,
perform a complete physical exam, and determine if radiation
treatment is appropriate.
Radiation Oncology Treatment Options:
Technology:
IMRT (Intensity
Modulated Radiation Therapy)
A computerized method of continuously altering the x-ray
beam strength in the patient’s treatment field to
allow for a smooth even distribution of radiation across
the cancerous tissue while minimizing radiation to the
surrounding normal tissues.
Tomotherapy
TomoTherapy Hi Art is a radiation treatment delivery system
that looks like a CT scanner. In fact, it was designed
from the ground up to combine industry-standard imaging
with innovative, helical radiation delivery. The result
is an all-in-one device that brings great accuracy and
precision to the treatment of all cancer sites.
Rapid Arc Therapy
A treatment technique in which the linear accelerator
moves in a continuous arc about the patient. It greatly
decreases patient treatment times and improves radiation
dose distribution within the treated area.
Stereotactic
Radiosurgery
A treatment technique in which a very high dose of radiation
is precisely delivered in a single or very few treatment
sessions over one to several days. It is used in the therapy
of brain lesions (tumors or blood vessel malformations).
On Board Imaging
A technique that permits diagnostic quality x-rays to
be taken with the patient in the treatment position on
the liner accelerator. It is used to check patient alignment
on a daily basis to insure very precise treatment delivery.
Before receiving radiation treatment,
patients are scheduled for a simulation to develop their
treatment plan. This includes preparing immobilization devices,
marking the treatment area on the skin, possibly a special
CT scan, and setting the treatment start date. Specially
trained radiation therapists give the radiation treatments.
Treatments are usually given 5 days a week for 2-8 weeks,
depending on the patient's treatment plan. Although set
up for the first treatment takes longer, it usually takes
about 15-20 minutes to set up and give daily radiation treatments.
CCSCI Specialties
Medical
Oncology | Radiation
Oncology | Urologic
Oncology | Hematology |
Pain Management
Patient/Family Education | Research
Studies & Clinical Trials
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