Types of Radiation Therapy

3-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy is a form of radiation therapy where the radiation dose is primarily delivered to the tumor, while the surrounding tissues receive little to no radiation. The physician uses a 3D image of the tumor from a CT scan, MRI, PET scan, etc. then a computer program analyzes the 3D image to target the tumor and reduce exposure of radiation to surrounding healthy tissues.

Brachytherapy is also called internal radiation because radioactive material is placed inside the patient’s body to deliver high doses of radiation to specific areas. It is removed after the session. Brachytherapy typically has fewer side effects than external beam radiation and the treatment time is usually shorter, too.

CyberKnife is a non-invasive alternative to surgery that can treat both cancerous and non-cancerous tumors anywhere in the body. More About Cyberknife >

This type of radiation therapy improves the precision of delivery to parts of the body that move—for example, the lungs. IGRT allows the physician to see the image of the tumor before and during treatment. The image provides the exact position of the patient and the tumor so the radiation beams can be adjusted to target the tumor. Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) delivers radiation to the tumor only when the patient holds their breath. This is technique is especially useful for tumors which occur in Left sided Breast or Chest wall.

This is an advanced form of therapy that delivers precise doses of radiation to a tumor or specific areas in the tumor. The machine shapes the radiation beam to fit precisely around the tumor. This means that the tumor receives a very high dose of radiation and normal healthy cells nearby receive a much lower dose. It also means that each radiotherapy beam can vary in intensity. This allows different doses of radiation to be given across the tumor.

The Prostate Implant Program is a multidisciplinary program that includes urology, radiation oncology, radiation safety and radiology. It is offered to patients with early-stage prostate cancer as an alternative treatment. In this treatment, around 40—100 radioactive seeds are implanted into the prostate gland. The implants remain in place permanently but become inert (no longer useful) after a few months. This therapy allows a high dose of radiation to be delivered to the prostate with limited damage to surrounding tissues.