Radiation Therapy
What is Radiation Therapy?
Many types of cancer can be treated by exposing the diseased area to radiation therapy. St. Elizabeth Cancer Care has state-of-the-art linear accelerators that treat cancer with a varied arsenal of radiation techniques. Modern technology provides energy-specific radiation, which centers treatment on a prescribed point in the body and minimizes effects to surrounding tissue. Many types of cancer can be treated by exposing the diseased area to radiation. St. Elizabeth Cancer Care has state-of-the-art linear accelerators that treat cancer with a varied arsenal of radiation techniques. Modern technology provides energy-specific radiation, which centers treatment on a prescribed point in the body and minimizes effects to surrounding tissue.
Planning for Radiation Treatments
Before the first treatment, a dedicated CAT scan simulation is used by the physician to pinpoint the exact area to be treated. A sophisticated three-dimensional computer planning system calculates the best method for delivery of the precise amount of radiation necessary to destroy the cancer. Most radiation treatment is given externally, which is very similar to getting an x-ray. Radioactive implants may also be used for patients requiring very intense radiation to a localized area. St. Elizabeth Cancer Care offers HDR or High Dose Rate radiation therapy for certain disease types. HDR is a method for delivering radiation via radioactive seeds or sources inserted directly into or very near the tumor. Advantages of HDR include fewer side effects, convenience of an outpatient procedure, and quicker recovery.
What to Expect During Radiation Therapy
The actual radiation treatment lasts only a few minutes and the majority of that time is spent positioning you on the table. Markings placed on your skin during simulation will assist the radiation therapists in aiming the radiation beam. You can expect to be in Cancer Care for 20-30 minutes for each treatment. The radiation therapists will perform your treatment every day based on instructions from your physician. Your physician will see you at least once a week and more often if your needs require. Radiation treatments are given daily, Monday – Friday, excluding major holidays.
Side Effects of Radiation Therapy
The side effects of radiation differ depending on the area of the body being treated. Expected side effects will be discussed at your initial consultation. Radiation therapy, brachytherapy and other types of cancer treatments are administered with many safeguards to protect you from risk and unnecessary irradiation to parts of the body not requiring treatment. In order to spare normal tissue, customized molds and blocks may be fabricated to position you during treatment.
Unlike chemotherapy, which is administered to the entire body via the bloodstream, radiation is a form of energy directed and restricted to the area of the tumor. The radiation is not absorbed by the rest of the body, nor are you “radioactive” when you leave the treatment room.
Remember, each individual’s treatment is different. The side effects you experience might not be the same as that of someone else. Any concerns or problems you have may be directed to the radiation oncology nurse or radiation therapist. If a staff member is unable to answer your questions, we will refer it to one of the physicians, who are always on call. If problems arise after 5 p.m. or on holidays or weekends, call your physician to speak with the physician on-call.
Make an appointment
For more information, please contact your oncologist or the Cancer Care Center at (859) 301-4000
APEx – Accreditation Program for Excellence®
The St. Elizabeth Radiation Oncology program is an accredited program with the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) APEx – Accreditation Program for Excellence®. St. Elizabeth Healthcare is the only healthcare system in Kentucky to receive this recognition.
APEx, the fastest-growing radiation oncology practice accreditation program in the United States, is a voluntary, objective and rigorous multi-step process during which a radiation oncology practice is evaluated using consensus-based standards. The practice must demonstrate its safety and quality processes and show that it adheres to patient-centered care by promoting effective communication, coordinated treatments and strong patient engagement.
Compassionate Care Utilizing Advanced Technology
Patients who need radiation therapy as part of their treatment plan can access the latest and most powerful radiation treatments using state-of-the-art, high-energy linear accelerators – the Edge™ Radiosurgery System, TrueBeam™ Radiotherapy System or the Vitalbeam™ Radiotherapy System.
Edge™ Radiosurgery System
Patients with lung, prostate, brain and spine tumors, and hard-to-treat cancers in other parts of the body, can now access the latest non-invasive tool for advanced radiation treatment at St. Elizabeth Healthcare.
The Edge, developed by Varian Medical Systems, has advanced software and devices that allow it to:
- Stop treatment if the targeted area moves out of alignment.
- Sculpt the radiation beam to match the shape of the tumor.
- Target the tumor from any angle.
- Position the patient at any angle on a special treatment couch.
- Deliver powerful doses in minutes.
Patients who receive treatment with the Edge can expect sessions to last from just minutes to less than a half hour. That means patients benefit from less interruption of their daily lives.
The Edge can be used for a wide variety of conditions, including many that cannot be treated with traditional surgery or radiation, including:
- Brain cancer
- Breast cancer
- Early stage lung cancer
- Liver cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Spine tumors
- Metastatic cancers
With the capability of the Edge, St. Elizabeth is now a one-stop center for the full range of radiation treatments. The speed with which the Edge operates means more patients can receive treatment each day.
For more information or to see if the Edge is a treatment option for you, please talk to your radiation oncologist.
TrueBeam™ Radiotherapy System
The TrueBeam allows for treatment of breast, prostate, lung, liver, head and neck cancers, and more. Because of its power and precision, physicians can target any area of the body and most treatments can be delivered in just a few minutes a day.
Treatment techniques include:
- 3D conformal radiotherapy
- Deep inspiration breath hold for Left Breast cancer, Vision RT
- Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)
- Image guided radiotherapy (IGRT)
- RapidArc radiotherapy technology
- Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)
Vitalbeam™ Radiotherapy System
The Vitalbeam allows for the following radiation treatments:
- 3D conformal radiotherapy
- Deep inspiration breath hold for Left Breast cancer, Vision RT
- Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)
- Image guided radiotherapy (IGRT)
- RapidArc radiotherapy technology
For more information or to see which treatment option is best for you, please talk to your radiation oncologist.
