Radiation Oncology
Radiation Oncology
A cancer diagnosis is a life-altering event for patients and their families. Our compassionate oncology specialists take the time to address each concern and explain every option to ensure that cancer patients and their families receive superior services, guidance and care.
Radiation Oncology at our Cancer Wellness Center focuses on treating cancer with ionizing radiation to destroy cancer cells. This is often used along with chemotherapy in susceptible cancers. The Radiation Oncologists at Saint Vincent Medical Group are expertly trained to treat a range of cancers.
Our caring specialists work in tandem with patients and family members, guiding them through each step in treatment and providing support before, during and beyond treatment and procedures. In addition, our comprehensive cancer-care program provides diverse services to ease the challenges faced by our patients, including lifestyle and nutrition advice, counseling and support for patients and their families.
Saint Vincent’s radiation oncologists provide advanced treatment for a wide range of cancers. In addition to our experienced team, we offer some of the latest radiation therapy technology. We treat the following cancers:
- Bladder
- Blood
- Bone
- Brain
- Breast
- Colorectal
- Gastrointestinal
- Gynecological
- Head
- Liver
- Lung
- Lymphoma
- Kidney
- Neck
- Pancreatic
- Prostate
- Testicular
- Thyroid
Your radiation oncologist and the radiation therapy team will work closely with your other cancer doctors before, during and after your radiation treatments to coordinate your care and provide the safest and most effective treatments available.
About Radiation Oncology
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Find an Oncologist
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Radiation Therapy – with the LINAC secondary
One of the most advanced cancer treatment platforms, the linear accelerator (LINAC) is external-beam radiation technology that pinpoints and treats cancerous and noncancerous abnormalities in the body with targeted conformal high energy X-rays resulting in less radiation to surrounding healthy tissues.
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Image guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
A radiation therapy machine is specially equipped with image technology that accounts for motion and allows your doctor to image your tumor before and during treatment.
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Intensity-modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
IMRT is a computer-controlled method of treating a tumor while helping to limit damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
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PET/CT (Positron Emission Tomography)
We use positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) scans to find and learn more about a cancer.
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Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
Also called stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) is an external radiation therapy that uses special equipment to position a patient and precisely deliver radiation to tumors in the body (except the brain). -
Surface-Guided Radiation Therapy (SGRT)
Surface-guided Radiation Therapy (SGRT) uses 3D imaging to position and track movement of radiation therapy patients during treatment by using multiple cameras to create a three-dimensional map of the skin that may help increase the accuracy of patient positioning before treatment begins and to try to ensure that radiation is precisely targeted throughout treatment.
Close and comfortable care
Radiation therapy treatments are often prescribed once per day for 2 to 7 weeks. The close, convenient care at Saint Vincent Hospital offers many advantages in addition to some of the latest technology. You’ll benefit from accessible and close parking and compassionate caregivers who will make you and your family as comfortable as possible during your course of treatment.
How is radiation therapy used?
Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, is used to cure, stop, or slow cancer growth. When a cure is not possible, radiation may be used to shrink cancer tumors to help reduce pain or problems caused by cancer. For example, radiation therapy may shrink a tumor that prevents a patient from eating or swallowing.
How is radiation therapy given to patients?
There are two main types of radiation therapy, external beam and internal. External beam radiation comes from a machine outside the body aimed at the cancer cells.
The first is from an external beam outside the body aimed at the cancer cells. For example, this is how the linear accelerator works. It can also be used internally when radioactive material is placed inside the body near cancer cells. Internal radiation therapy is called brachytherapy. The third type of radiation therapy is systemic radiation therapy. Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance given by mouth or into a vein that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the body.
Radiation therapy can damage normal cells as well as cancer cells. Therefore, your radiation oncologist will carefully plan your treatment to minimize side effects. The radiation oncologist determines the dosage and scheduling of treatments, manages side effects, and all other aspects of your radiation therapy. The type of radiation therapy prescribed by a radiation oncologist depends on many factors, including:
- The type of cancer.
- The size of cancer.
- Cancer's location in the body.
- How close the cancer is to normal tissues sensitive to radiation.
- How far into the body the radiation needs to travel.
For more information about radiation therapy or find a Radiation Oncologist, please call 508-363-6511
Other Helpful Hints:
- Family or friends are welcome to accompany you during your treatment. However, visiting restrictions may vary but preferably no small children or those that are ill. Please call the main desk at 508-363-6511 to verify the most updated visitor policy.
- For first-time therapy, it is recommended that someone accompany you to your appointment.
- Refreshments are available but lunch is not provided.
- You may eat breakfast and take usual medications before coming for your appointment unless otherwise directed.
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