Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells and prevent them from spreading. Every Avera Cancer Institute location is equipped with the latest technology and oncology expertise to deliver this type of treatment.
Did you know?
Avera's radiation oncology experts make sure you receive the precise dose at the right location every time during treatment appointments.
Internal and External Radiation Therapies
Radiation oncologists use advanced imaging systems to diagnose cancer. They determine the most effective method to deliver radiation therapy for individualized care.
- CT-Based 3-D treatment planning employs X-rays to create high-resolution images of tumors anywhere in the body.
- PET/CT Fusion treatment planning is a nuclear medicine image technique paired with CT technology. A positron emission tomography (PET) scan creates 3-D images of body processes to provide critical diagnostic and cancer staging information in one fast exam.
- MRI/CT Fusion treatment planning uses strong magnetic fields to generates images paired with CT technology. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) looks at organs and structures inside your body to help localize and aid radiation therapy.
Specialized Technology
Linear accelerators feature custom delivery techniques to tailor treatment with advanced 3-D and 4-D imaging systems and patient positioning functions, emphasizing comfort, safety and optimal treatment. Highly precise beams treat the tumor while minimizing exposure to healthy tissues and organs nearby to diminish side effects.
How This Treatment Works
- Destroys cancer cells
- Shrinks tumors
- Preserves healthy cells
- Prevents spread by permanently damaging DNA
Types of Radiation Treatments
Depending on your condition, you may benefit from a high dose of radiation precisely directed at the cancer cells through internal (brachytherapy) or external therapies. You and your doctor will determine the best therapy and treatment schedule for you.
- Individual treatment sessions can last from just a few minutes to more than a half hour.
- How often and how long you need radiation can range from a single treatment all the way to 5 days a week for 8 weeks.
External Beam Therapy
The most common form of radiation treatment is external beam therapy. Laser beams deliver radiation to the tumor from hundreds of angles, saving the surrounding healthy tissues. Many types of external radiation therapies are available.
- Elekta Versa HD linear accelerator precisely delivers a high dose of radiation from hundreds of different angles to a single spot on a tumor.
- Elekta Infinity linear accelerator enhances imaging and has the capability for a full range of radiation treatments.
- Gamma Knife® radiation therapy sends numerous highly focused beams of radiation targeting brain tumors, disorders and inoperable lesions.
- Image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) targets a specific tumor in your body that moves when you breathe by having frequent imaging tests during a treatment session.
- Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) aims thousands of small beams at the tumor from different angles.
- Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) uses a single dose to provide a radiation boost directly to the tumor site during a lumpectomy surgery.
- Total body irradiation (TBI) distributes radiation evenly across the entire body for patients with blood-related cancers.
- Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) provides single or multiple radiation beams to sweep in uninterrupted arcs around the tumor.
Brachytherapy
A different type of radiation treatment is high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy. During brachytherapy, radioactive materials are placed into or near the affected tissue to kill cancer cells. The procedure involves temporary implants staying in the body for several minutes to guide the source of radiation, and are then removed. This approach can be very useful to treat a number of cancers, including cervical, endometrial and vaginal.
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Radionuclide Therapy
Radioligand therapy (RLT) involves an injection of medicine from a class of drugs known as peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT). This form of radiation treatment links a radioactive chemical to a tumor cell-targeting molecule. The molecule then binds to a specific target found on some cancer cells. This helps kill the cancer while limiting impact to normal cells.
This radiation treatment is also known as nuclear medicine therapy. Many new clinical trials are underway to uncover more about this revolutionary treatment with a lot of promise.
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Intraoperative Radiation Therapy
Electron-based, Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) involves a radiation boost directly to the tumor site during lumpectomy surgery to remove breast cancer. A mobile linear accelerator delivers this high dose of radiation in about 1-2 minutes. Results can be immediate with fewer side effects with this treatment.
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