St. Joseph's Cancer Center offers treatments using advanced medical technology. More than half of our current cancer patients are treated with radiation therapy in which high-energy radiation is carefully used to pinpoint and destroy cancer cells in the body. The Radiation Oncology Department continues to develop more precise treatment strategies including Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) and High Dose Rate Afterloading (HDR) Brachytherapy.

Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is an advanced mode of high-precision radiotherapy, administered by an Elekta SynergyTM Linear Accelerator. It delivers precise radiation doses to a malignant tumor or to specific areas within the tumor. The radiation dose is designed to conform to the three-dimensional (3-D) shape of the tumor by focusing a higher radiation dose while minimizing exposure to healthy tissue. IMRT can be used to treat cancers of the prostate, head and neck, brain, breast, and lung, as well as gynecologic tumors, lymphomas and sarcomas.

Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)

Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) assures that the radiation dose is targeted to the tumor. Our Elekta SynergyTM combines both IMRT with state-of-the-art three-dimensional X-ray Volume Imaging (XVI) that enables the radiation oncologist to adjust the radiation beam to target the tumor. This accuracy allows higher doses of radiation to be delivered safely.

High Dose Rate Afterloading (HDR) Brachytherapy

The temporary implantation of radioactive sources directly into the cancerous site. This outpatient procedure is effective in treating gynecologic, lung, breast and other cancers. Another option for some women is Mammosite, a non-invasive therapy designed to deliver the prescribed radiation dosage following a lumpectomy for breast cancer. The Mammosite treatment is completed in five outpatient treatment days. It provides minimal radiation exposure to healthy tissue and reduces the potential for side effects and cosmetic damage.