Radiation Therapy

Renown Health's Institute for Cancer has the most advanced radiation therapy system of its kind and the first program in the region with American College of Radiology (ACR-RO) accreditation.

To serve you, our certified team of experts includes highly trained doctors, medical physicists, dosimetrists, radiation therapists, and registered nurses.

What is Radiation Therapy?

A common form of cancer treatment, radiation therapy uses high-energy particles to eliminate cancerous cells and may be used in conjunction with other treatments, like chemotherapy or surgery.

What to Expect

Treating cancer with radiation is a process that usually lasts about five to eight weeks. The first two appointments are consultation, simulation, and mapping, which help plan treatment. Short, daily radiation treatment appointments follow these.

Why Choose Renown?

Renown's state-of-the-art Varian TrueBeam radiation therapy system delivers treatment so precisely; it reaches sub-millimeter levels of accuracy. In addition, unlike other treatment centers in the region, Renown has the technology to deliver radiation from 360 degrees around the patient's body, allowing us to target cancerous cells and save healthy tissue.

Consultation

The first appointment is called the consultation. A radiation oncologist meets with the patient to discuss treatment options, perform a physical examination and answer questions.

Simulation and Mapping

Since radiation therapy aims to target cancer while sparing healthy tissue, to maintain body position and stillness is essential. A CT scan is used to pinpoint cancer's exact location in the patient's body during the simulation and mapping appointment. Doctors refer to these scans as they work together to craft a treatment plan.

Patients are fitted with immobilization devices that keep the body still during treatment. In addition, brain and head, and neck cancer patients are equipped with a mesh mask to keep the head and neck in position. For cancers elsewhere in the body, patients are fitted with foam molds that form to the body. These personalized molds are kept on hand for use during daily radiation treatments.

Additionally, the radiation therapist creates several pinpoint-sized tattoos on the patient's skin to ensure each daily treatment targets the same area. These tattoos are permanent but small enough to go unnoticed by others.