Radiation Oncology at St. Vincent Hospital
Bright
new technologies. Caring treatment
Today, cancer is often a very treatable disease. Thanks to new, early detection
methods and major gains in technology and treatments, the prognosis is much
brighter.
And now at the Regional Cancer Center, we approach the disease with more than
one technique or therapy…often with a combination of therapies. High energy
X-ray beams bombard and destroy malignant cells. Radiation implants (brachytherapy)
deliver high doses of radiation directly to the disease. Chemotherapy attacks
cancer throughout the body. Surgeons heal with their skills and technology. Pastoral
care and patient education stimulate the mind and spirit to rise as a powerful
weapon against cancer.
The results? More and more patients with cancer are cured.
Radiation Oncology at St. Vincent Hospital
The Radiation Oncology Department at the Regional Cancer Center is a leader in
this new way of viewing cancer as a treatable disease…not a terminal illness.
We’re equipped with state-of-the-art radiation therapy equipment and computerized
treatment planning systems.
But most important, we’re a team. We’re a group of highly qualified
professionals with diverse skills who can work in concert with other teams at
St. Vincent Hospital’s Regional Cancer Center. We’re radiation oncologists,
dosimetrists, radiation therapists, registered nurses and radiation physicists.
And we’re all working toward one common goal: To provide cancer patients
with state-of-the-art therapy in a caring, compassionate environment.
Consultation
No matter
what type of radiation therapy you receive, your treatment begins with consultation.
Most patients are referred to radiation oncology by other specialists
who have tested the patient to determine if cancer is present and if so, at what
stage.
During your first visit, a radiation oncologist will review the results of previous
tests to determine if radiation therapy is a treatment option. Family members
or significant others are encouraged to accompany you on this visit.
A complete description
The consultation includes a description of how your treatment works and possible
side effects. The oncologist may order other tests which might include another
group of x-ray examinations, blood work or scans.
The first steps
Before you even see the physician, you will see the radiation oncology nurse.
The nurse will take your pulse, blood pressure, weight, health history and the
history of your present illness. You’ll learn about what you can expect
from radiation treatment, including side effects. The nurse will show you an
informative video about radiation treatment.
Simulation
Simulation is the collection of specific information to make your treatments
as accurate as possible.
The first step
You will be asked to lie on a CT table. The radiation oncologist and radiation
therapist will determine the best position for your treatment. Next, the therapist
and radiation oncologist may move the table to the approximate location for the
CT scan. The oncologist will study the images and determine where and how to
direct the radiation to achieve the best treatment.
Marking the areas
The therapist will need to mark certain areas in order to accurately aim the
radiation at exactly the same spot during each of your treatments. In some cases,
the therapist may place the marks directly on your skin or the marks will be
put on a plastic mask that you wear during treatment.
Special blocks
Shields are often used to protect surrounding organs or tissues from unnecessary
radiation. If needed, the team will make a special block that fits you and your
treatment situation. Most often the shielding used is within the treatment machine.
It is called multi-leaf collimators or MLC.
When blocks are used, a therapist places the block on the external beam therapy
machine before treatment. Radiation travels in a direct line from the treatment
machine to the patient and the blocks or MLC’s shield the normal tissue
from the radiation.
Dosimetry
This process begins with a careful study of your simulation and ends with a prescription
that outlines your course of treatment.
The radiation oncologists and other members of the treatment team carefully study
information on the location and size of the tumor, surrounding tissues and organs.
The physician reviews the information provided during simulation to determine
the appropriate course of treatment. Then taking the patient’s general
medical condition into consideration, the team, with computer-aided technology,
develops a treatment plan that provides the safest and most effective treatment
for the individual.
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