Your health and wellness are our passion. At McGlinn Cancer Institute, our radiation oncologists are part of a world-class team of specialists who work closely to ensure the ideal combination of treatment for cancer.
The radiation oncology team includes physicians, physicists, radiation therapists, nurses, dosimetrists, nurse navigators, and support staff to ensure that your care and support are comprehensive.
We are educators. We ensure that you understand your diagnosis and available treatment options, so you know what to expect every step of the way. We have many open clinical trials that ensure our patients are receiving leading-edge treatments.
Radiation technology has changed dramatically over the years. The most commonly used radiation machine is a linear accelerator, which allows us to deliver high-energy x-rays directly at the target to achieve our goals. Precision is critical, and we are precise. Radiation is often combined with other treatments such as medical and biologic therapies and surgery.
Our advanced technology and attention to detail minimize the side effects of treatment. The majority of our patients of working age continue to work full time during their course of radiation.
Radiation Oncology Providers
Adaptive Radiation Therapy
Adaptive radiation therapy is a state-of-the-art treatment option that allows clinicians to develop a new plan during each session. As a result, radiation plans can be individually tailored and based on the internal positioning of the patient's anatomy that day. This permits potentially higher and more effective dosage to the tumor, while better sparing healthy tissues and reducing side effects. Because radiation doses can be better shaped to the tumor each day, adaptive radiation therapy can also reduce the number of total treatment sessions. This revolutionary technique can be used to treat a wide array of cancers throughout the body, particularly those in the lung, abdomen, and pelvis.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
SBRT has changed the way we treat many cancers, including lung, prostate, pancreatic, liver, and spine. With this technology, patients receive no more than five radiation treatments, rather than the more typical 20 to 35 treatments. SBRT also offers an option for patients with limited treatment options — including patients who are not candidates for surgery or those who have already received radiation therapy — may benefit from this radiation therapy to a particular area of the body.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery
This non-surgical, non-invasive radiation therapy treats small tumors in the brain and spinal cord. Stereotactic radiosurgery technology allows a single radiation treatment to replace surgery or a much longer course of treatment. This technology is increasingly being used beyond the realm of cancer – for benign tumors of the brain and painful conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia.
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
IMRT uses computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to create 3D images of the body and tissues affected by cancer. The images help radiation oncologists develop a personalized treatment plan that targets the exact shape of the tumor. This allows for more effective doses of radiation while reducing exposure to healthy tissues. IMRT can be used to treat nearly all cancers.
Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
IGRT ensures that each individual radiation treatment is delivered with precision, accounting for daily changes in patient and tumor position.
Internal Radiation Therapy (Brachytherapy)
Brachytherapy is an advanced internal radiation therapy procedure that delivers high doses of radiation. This internal temporary implant of a tiny radioactive source is a very efficient way to deliver treatment, as the radiation is placed directly against (or within) the high-risk areas. Brachytherapy may be used to treat cancers of the cervix, uterus, prostate, and skin among others. Our physics team works closely with your oncologist on the safety and accuracy of the procedure, ensuring that radiation is properly contained before you leave.
Radiopharmaceutical Therapy
This type of radiation therapy uses radioactive medicine (radioisotopes) to treat cancer. The medicine is delivered orally or injected into a vein or inserted into the body. Our radiation oncologists work with specialists in nuclear medicine to treat many different cancers, including thyroid cancer, prostate cancer, and lymphoma.