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Radiation Oncology
Radiation Oncology services at the C.R. Wood Cancer Center are provided by a dedicated group of health care professionals, including radiation oncologists, physicists, radiation therapists and nurses. All of who are board-certified in their respective fields. The department is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including two accelerators, a CT/simulator, a number of treatment planning systems and access to a positron emission tomographic scanner (PET/CT scanner). A high-dose rate applicator (HDR) is scheduled for installation in 2006. The accelerators are computer-controlled and are used to deliver x-ray beam or electron beam radiotherapy. The accelerators are fitted with the latest features including multi-leaf collimation and digital imaging. This technology delivers fast and accurate treatment as well as intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT). The PET/CT scanner produces metabolic images of the body that permits image-fusion planning. Image-fusion planning is the latest development in radiotherapy treatment planning that allows the oncologist to better target tumors and avoid normal tissues. In addition to accelerator-based radiotherapy, which is referred to as external beam radiotherapy, the radiation oncology department has an active brachytherapy or implant therapy service. Brachytherapy is a form of radiotherapy in which small radioactive sources are placed directly into or near a tumor. Cancers of the endometrium, cervix and prostate are all currently treated with brachytherapy at the C.R. Wood Cancer Center. The addition of the HDR unit in 2006 will allow the expansion of the implant service to include breast, esophageal and lung cancer. Lastly, the department also has a radiopharamaceutical service. Radiopharmaceuticals are used to treat thyroid cancer and some bone cancers. Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) is the newest form of radiopharmaceutical therapy. It uses an antibody specific to a certain tumor to deliver a radiopharmaceutical to the cancer in order to destroy it. RIT has great potential to eradicate certain cancers with minimal side effects. We have been providing RIT at the C.R. Wood Cancer Center since 2004. Radiation Oncologists
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