Kennewick, WA Introduction to Radiation Therapy for Cancer
Radiation Treatment at Northwest Cancer Clinic
Radiation therapy is a commonly used tool to treat many types of cancer. It may be used as the only therapy or it is sometimes given in combination with surgery or chemotherapy. The goal of radiation therapy for cancer is to deliver high doses of radiation to cancer cells while limiting exposure to surrounding normal tissues.
Fortunately, in contrast to cancer cells, normal cells have the capacity to repair themselves after radiation so long as they are not exposed to too much radiation at once. This is why we give radiation therapy over several weeks rather than all at once. The regenerative characteristic of normal cells, coupled with improvements in techniques to target the cancer and limit the dose to normal tissue, has facilitated a modern era of radiation therapy with excellent cancer cure rates and limited side effects.
Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy, pronounced “brack-ay-therapy” (from the Greek word brachy, meaning “short distance”) is a treatment that involves placing radioactive material inside or near a tumor. This allows radiation to conform to the size and shape of the tumor or organ while minimizing radiation to the rest of the body.
Specialized Cancer Care
At Northwest Cancer Clinic we treat all types of cancer, but we specialize in several common cancers that typically respond very well to radiation therapy. With these cancers, we work closely with your specialty physician (e.g. dermatologist, urologist, etc.) to ensure cooperative care so that you get the best and most comprehensive treatment possible.
Radiation for prostate cancer is one of the most effective treatments, and we offer several options for radiation treatment at the Northwest Cancer Clinic.
High dose rate brachytherapy, or HDR brachytherapy, is a highly effective treatment for skin cancer.
For glioblastoma and other brain tumors, radiation treatment can help shrink the tumor, slow its growth, or in some cases even eliminate it entirely.
Unlike surgery or chemotherapy, radiation focuses on a specific area, making it a precise and effective option for treating breast cancer.
Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer
In the case of prostate cancer, radiation treatments must be administered in a way that adequately covers the entire prostate with an accurate, effective dose of radiation. This is challenging due to the fact that prostates are irregularly shaped and varying in size. Inadequate or inaccurate treatment will lead to survival of cancer cells in the prostate. However, we also want to avoid excessive doses to normal tissues such as the hip bones, bladder, urethra, rectum, and nerve bundles which are involved in normal urinary, bowel, and sexual function and lie in close proximity to the prostate gland.
To avoid any unnecessary exposure to normal tissues, there are several approaches we can take to treat prostate cancer. Radiation can be delivered to the prostate from the outside which is called External Beam Radiation, or by implanting radioactive sources within the prostate, called Brachytherapy. Depending on the aggressiveness and stage of the cancer, either approach may be preferred and sometimes the two approaches are combined.
At Northwest Cancer Clinic, we also offer patients the SpaceOAR, which is a hydrogel that is safe to use in the body. Before treatment begins, the hydrogel is injected between the rectum and the prostate. The hydrogel helps reduce the amount of radiation the rectum receives, helping to minimize side effects.
