What to Expect with Radiation Treatment

We recognize that learning you have cancer can be overwhelming.

Our dedicated team of professionals works with patients and their loved ones from the time of diagnosis through completing their final treatment. And we follow their progress and recovery for years after that final victory bell. In addition, we collaborate with area hospitals, physicians, and other cancer care providers to ensure our patients have access to the most effective treatment options available, right here in the Tri-Cities area.

Radiation therapy is the treatment of cancer using penetrating beams of high-energy waves or streams of particles called radiation. Radiation therapy is one of the most common treatments for cancer and is used in more than half of all cancer cases.

Just as each patient is an individual, each patient’s cancer treatment needs are different. Northwest Cancer Clinic offers the latest state-of-the-art radiation oncology treatment with equipment designed to precisely target tumors quickly and effectively, while reducing side effects.

If you, or someone you know, has been diagnosed with cancer and is in need of radiation oncology treatment, contact our Kennewick clinic to secure an appointment with Dr. Choe.

Northwest Cancer Clinic continually invests in cutting edge radiation treatment technology, keeping patients close to home for their treatment and care and serving as a referral center for patients throughout Washington.

Industry leader, Varian Medical Systems developed our treatment systems including unparalleled linear accelerator technology which combines the best aspects of other radiation treatment systems.

This system accurately targets tumors and other abnormalities without an incision or the need for recovery in a hospital setting. Its knifelike beam can accurately target tumors of the brain, spine, lung, and other areas that are typically difficult to treat surgically.

The TrueBeam system delivers radiosurgery treatments quickly while monitoring and compensating for motion through the use of advanced imaging and real-time motion tracking technologies. Even tumors that move when a patient breathes (for example, those in the lung or breast, see video below) can be precisely targeted due to special tools that compensate for motion throughout a treatment. A sophisticated treatment couch with 6-axes of motion enhances treatment precision by providing additional angles for targeting tumors.

The TrueBeam can complete these sophisticated treatments in just a few minutes per day. A complex radiosurgery that typically takes 30 to 60 minutes can usually be completed in less than 15 minutes. This is important, as independent studies have shown that with faster treatments there is less time for tumor and patient movement.The TrueBeam may be an option for patients who may not have other options. For example, a patient who is not a candidate for traditional surgery may be a candidate for radiosurgery given its non-invasive nature.