Radiation Therapy Services
Radiation therapy is the highly accurate and precise use of high-energy radiation to treat cancer.
What are the types of radiation therapy?
External Radiation Beam Therapy
Radiation therapy targets the tumor using technology outside a patient's body called a linear accelerator (LINAC). With careful treatment planning, the surrounding normal tissue can be spared.
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) treats cancerous and non-cancerous tumors. Radiation beams fit the tumor’s shape and deliver radiation directly to cancer cells from different angles. This allows for higher doses of radiation while limiting the side effects and damage to surrounding healthy tissue and organs.
Stereotactic Body Radiation
Stereotactic Body Radiation (SBRT) uses advanced imaging techniques to deliver a targeted radiation dose to a tumor. The radiation is focused on the tumor with millimeter precision.
SpaceOAR Hydrogel
SpaceOAR Hydrogel with radiation therapy pushes the rectum away from the prostate, minimizing side effects during and after prostate radiation therapy.
Radiopharmaceuticals
Radioactive Iodine Therapy (RAI) is a treatment for thyroid cancer. Your thyroid gland absorbs nearly all of the iodine in your body, so RAI collects mainly in thyroid cells, where the radiation can destroy the cancer cells that take up iodine with little effect on the rest of your body.
Low-Dose Radiation Therapy
Low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT) is an effective treatment for osteoarthritis (OA) to calm inflammation in the joints and reduce pain, without the side effects of surgery or long-term medication use. Learn more
How does radiation therapy work?
Radiation therapy works by destroying the cancer cell's ability to reproduce. Radiation is sometimes combined with chemotherapy or surgery, depending on the type and location of the cancer. It may be used to:
- Cure cancer
- Prevent local regrowth of the cancer
- Relieve symptoms, such as pain or shortness of breath
How long do the treatments take?
The treatment process for radiation therapy can take 10 to 30 minutes each day, with most of the time spent positioning the patient. The duration of a course of radiation depends on the patient’s diagnosis, stage of disease, overall health, and the goal of treatment.
Radiation oncology team
The radiation oncology team at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center at Firelands Regional Medical Center works closely to prescribe, design and deliver care for you during your radiation therapy treatment. The following are the members of our care team:
Radiation oncologist
The radiation oncologist is the physician who determines the radiation therapy necessary for treatment. The physician determines the type of radiation, the area to treat and the dosage. The physician monitors that every treatment is accurately given and identifies and treats any side effects from the radiation therapy.
Radiation therapist
Radiation therapists are trained in delivering radiation treatments, ensuring precision and safety at all times under the direction of the radiation oncologist. The therapists will see the patient daily and provide constant care and monitoring for side effects and problems.
Oncology nurse
Our oncology nurses see patients routinely to answer questions and manage side effects. The nurses play a key role in educating the patient about treatments, side effects, and resources available.
Seidman Cancer Center at Firelands Regional Medical Center is accredited by the American College of Radiology.
If you have questions about our radiation therapy services, please call 419-557-7480.
