Radiation Oncology - Thomas Hospitals

Overview
Providers

Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses energy in the form of radiation to destroy or slow the growth of cancer cells. Radiation works by damaging the DNA of the cancer cells. Radiation oncologists use radiation to treat cancerous and noncancerous diseases.

At the WVU Cancer Institute at Thomas Memorial Hospital, our team of radiation oncologists, nurses, therapists, dosimetrists (specialists who help develop your radiation plan), and medical physicists work together to plan and deliver the most precise, safe, and effective care for you.

Radiation Therapy Treats Many Different Cancers

Radiation therapy is sometimes used as a stand-alone cancer treatment. It can also be used with other treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery.

Radiation therapy and surgery — Oncologists often combine surgery with radiation. It can be used before, during, or after surgery to shrink the tumor or destroy any remaining cancer cells.
Radiation therapy and medication — Radiation therapy is often given to patients receiving chemotherapy to weaken or destroy cancer cells.

We use radiation therapy to treat many different types of cancer, including:

Anal
Brain
Breast
Cervix
Esophagus
Head and neck
Larynx
Leukemia and lymphoma
Lung
Pancreas
Pediatric
Prostate
Rectal
Sarcoma
Skin
Stomach
Uterine

Types of Radiation Treatment We Offer

Many factors determine what type of radiation therapy will best treat your cancer. These include the type, size, and location of the cancer, your age and general health, and whether you will have other types of cancer treatment.

A radiation oncologist may use computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, positron emission tomography (PET) scans, and ultrasound images to help with the planning of your radiation treatments.

Our radiation oncologists perform the following therapeutic procedures:

External beam therapy — External beam therapy typically involves daily radiation treatments for one to eight weeks. These treatments are given using a machine called a linear accelerator.
Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) — This approach allows for imaging before and during your treatment. Daily imaging is used to make sure your body is positioned correctly, so that the radiation targets the tumor with great precision.
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) — This approach uses computer programs to deliver high-dose radiation from many angles. It helps doctors avoid nearby healthy tissue and organs while precisely radiating the tumor.
Respiratory gating — Some tumors can move when you breathe, particularly if they are located in your lungs, abdomen, or chest. This technique accounts for these movements when delivering the radiation.
Stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) / stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) — This treatment uses precisely focused radiation beams to treat tumors and other problems in the brain. This type of treatment consists of one or two treatments.
Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) — This is a treatment like SRS; however, it is performed on tumors outside the brain. This type of treatment consists of three to five treatments.