Radiation Oncology
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About half of all people who develop cancer receive radiation therapy at some time during their illness. This treatment involves the use of high-energy ionizing radiation in the form of X-rays, electron beams or a combination of each.
Radiation therapy may be used alone, or in combination with surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy to treat different types of cancer. The exact type of radiation used is determined by location, type, stage and treatment parameters of your cancer. Treatment recommendations are based on results of scientific research and extensive reviews of previous treatments.
Brachytherapy
During brachytherapy, sealed radioactive sources are temporarily or permanently implanted into the patient to deliver radiation directly to the tumor. Cancers treated with brachytherapy include those of the prostate, cervix, lung and breast. Brachytherapy is delivered at one of two dose rates, depending on the patient's diagnosis, stage and clinical considerations: high-dose (HDR) brachytherapy, which often allows treatment as an outpatient; and low-dose-rate brachytherapy, which reqres a hospital admission.
Brachytherapy for Skin Cancer
Brachytherapy can be used to treat non-melanoma skin cancers where surgery is not the preferred option. For skin cancer, a mold is created to hold the seeds just above the skin without requiring implantation.
With this approach, radiation is administered through a series of appointments. The common schedule for this treatment plan includes 10 doses on a schedule of two or three times a week for patient convenience.
CyberKnife® Radiosurgery
Crozer Health, in affiliation with Philadelphia CyberKnife, is proud to offer CyberKnife treatment to our patients. The CyberKnife is an FDA-approved robotic stereotactic radiosurgery system that targets and destroys small and previously inaccessible tumors or lesions anywhere in the body.
Located on West Chester Pike in Havertown, and operated by Alliance Oncology, CyberKnife is Delaware Valley’s first and most experienced facility with the CyberKnife system.
External Beam Therapy
External Beam Therapy takes greater advantage of the technological capabilities of our linear accelerators. Use of this advanced computerized technology enables our radiation therapists to deliver optimal doses of radiation to the tumor, while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
This technique specifies doses to the tumors and to selected normal structures. Our physicist develops a plan employing the 3-D treatment planning system and then optimizes the dose to the tumor and minimizes the dose to the normal structures.
Radiofrequency (RF) Ablation
RF Ablation is a type of interventional radiology that uses mild electrical current on an inoperative tumor, effectively "cooking" the malignant growth and preventing its spread.
Contact Us
The Crozer Health Cancer Care team is ready to help. Call 1-866-695-HOPE (866-695-4673), or use our convenient online request form.
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