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Continuum of Care: Prevention Diagnosis and Treatment
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Treatment Options
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Radiation Therapy
Radiation Therapy
The Lewis Cancer and Research Pavilion, through its
affiliation with
the Savannah
Oncology Center, offers the most technologically
advanced treatment options
in the region such as:
- Intensity modulated radiation therapy
(IMRT): IMRT allows
the physician to target the specific area of the tumor and
deliver concentrated radiation to the tumor volume,
while reducing the
radiation delivered to surrounding normal tissue.
Savannah Oncology was one of
the leaders in the early adoption of IMRT technology.
- Image-guided radiation therapy
(IGRT): IGRT supplements
IMRT to create cutting-edge radiation
treatment delivery. The technologies work
together to increase
accuracy in radiation treatment delivered by
compensating for breathing and
daily internal organ changes. Daily imaging on the
actual treatment machine,
coupled with sophisticated treatment planning software
and pre-treatment
imaging studies, allows for highly specific localization
of the patient's
tumor prior to each radiation treatment. This helps to
compensate for motion
due to breathing and daily internal organ changes to
maximize the accuracy of
treatment each day.
- Four-dimensional 40-slice wide-bore
imaging: The most
advanced CT scanner available allows images to be taken
at multiple
split-second time intervals to track tumor and
organ motion through the respiratory cycle. These images
can then be used for
IGRT.
- High- and low-dose rate brachytherapy:
Temporary or permanent implantable radiation sources
allow radiation
treatment to be delivered directly to
the tumor.
This is used in breast, prostate and lung tumors.
- MVision and Cone Beam CT Imaging by
Siemens: Using
MVision technology, these treatment machines and 4D CT
scanner work together
for IMRT and IGRT to analyze patient position and
generate the adjustments
required to deliver precision radiation therapy. Using
"beam's eye view" data
during treatment, it is the first production system of
its kind in the United
States.
Radiation treatment is another treatment option that is
used in over half of
all cancer cases.
It usually has a high success rate when used on its own or
in combination
with chemotherapy or
surgery. Radiation
therapy uses special equipment to deliver high
doses of radiation to
cancerous tumors,
killing or damaging them so that they cannot grow,
multiply or spread.
Through advancements in technology, radiation
therapy can now be guided to target a specific
tumor or area therefore
reducing the amount of damage to the surrounding healthy
tissue or cells.
Some side effects of radiation therapy
include:
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