Radiation therapy is a highly effective cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. By damaging the DNA in cancer cells, radiation prevents these cells from growing and dividing, ultimately causing them to stop functioning. It is one of the most common cancer treatments, used to treat and potentially cure both early-stage and advanced-stage cancers. It is also used to reduce the risk of recurrence for many types of cancer.
Types of Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is generally divided into two main types: External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) and Brachytherapy.
What is External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT)?
EBRT is the most commonly used form of radiation therapy. It involves delivering radiation to the cancerous area from an external machine, typically called a linear accelerator (LINAC). The LINAC generates high-energy X-ray beams that are precisely aimed at the tumor, allowing the radiation to target cancer cells while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.
During EBRT, your medical team will use advanced imaging technologies such as CT scans, MRIs, or PET scans to carefully map the treatment area. This ensures the radiation is delivered with maximum precision.
Benefits of EBRT
- Non-invasive: No surgical procedure is required, making it suitable for many types of cancers.
- Highly Targeted: The imaging technologies used during EBRT allow for precise targeting of the tumor, sparing healthy tissues as much as possible.
- Effective for a Range of Cancers: EBRT can be used to treat many cancers, including breast, lung, prostate, head and neck, and gastrointestinal cancers.
- Outpatient Treatment: Most EBRT sessions are performed on an outpatient basis, allowing patients to return home after each session.
Our Advanced Technologies Allows Us to Perform:
- IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy) – Including VMAT (Volumetric Arc Therapy); Pencil Beam therapy; Lattice and Spatially Fractionated Radiation Therapy (SFRT) and AI assisted inverse planning. IMRT is a precise form of radiation treatment that targets tumors while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.
- SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy) – SBRT is a high-dose radiation treatment that precisely targets small tumors with minimal impact on nearby healthy tissue.
- SABR (Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy) – SABR is an advanced form of radiation therapy that delivers high doses to tumors with pinpoint accuracy, minimizing damage to surrounding tissues.
- SRS (Stereotactic Radiosurgery) – SRS is a non-surgical radiation therapy that precisely targets tumors in the brain and spine with high-dose radiation in a single session.
Additional treatments include the placement of Barrigel or SpaceOAR; gel spacers placed between the prostate and rectum to protect healthy tissue from radiation during prostate cancer treatment.
What is Brachytherapy?
Brachytherapy, unlike EBRT, involves placing the radiation source directly inside or very close to the tumor. Tiny radioactive seeds, rods, or capsules are implanted in or near the cancerous tissue, allowing for a concentrated dose of radiation to be delivered directly to the tumor site. This localized approach minimizes exposure to healthy tissue.
What Does Brachytherapy Treat?
Brachytherapy is effective for treating various types of cancer, including:
- Prostate Cancer: Radioactive seeds are implanted in the prostate gland, where they slowly release radiation.
- Gynecologic Cancers: Cancers of the cervix, uterus, and vagina can be treated with internal radiation.
- Breast Cancer: Brachytherapy may be used after a lumpectomy to target any remaining cancer cells in the breast tissue.
- Head and Neck Cancers: Brachytherapy may be used for cancers in areas like the mouth or throat.
- Skin Cancer: For non-melanoma skin cancers, brachytherapy provides localized treatment with minimal impact on surrounding healthy tissue.
Benefits of Brachytherapy:
- High Precision: The radiation is delivered directly to the tumor, reducing damage to nearby healthy tissues.
- Shorter Treatment Duration: Some brachytherapy treatments can be completed in fewer sessions compared to EBRT.
- Minimized Side Effects: Due to its localized nature, brachytherapy may have fewer side effects compared to other forms of radiation therapy.
Proton Radiation
Several clinical trials, including the recent PARTIQoL trial, show that protons are not more effective than photons for treating prostate cancer. Both have similar safety and disease control outcomes, which is why we recommend photon therapy.
At Woodlands Cancer Institute, our skilled team of radiation oncologists will design a personalized treatment plan based on your specific case. Our goal is to deliver the most effective and precise treatment to ensure the best possible outcome. We are committed to providing comprehensive cancer care that combines cutting-edge technology with compassionate care.