Because we have the most advanced radiation equipment, you don’t have to travel to a large medical center to get the best treatment available.

Experience the Blessing Difference: External Beam Radiation:

Our team of specialists uses advanced technology and modern facilities to make your radiation treatment as successful, convenient and comfortable as possible. People throughout our region come to Blessing because we offer:

  • Minimal pain or other side effects: Most of our patients do not feel any pain during or after radiation therapies. Sometimes, you may develop a skin rash if the tumor is close to the skin. We can help you manage side effects with a variety of treatments.

  • Advanced imaging technologies: In our radiation suite, we use the latest equipment and techniques to produce detailed images of a tumor. Our precise imaging helps us ensure that we are accurately targeting the tumor.

  • Sophisticated and integrated radiation technology: We deliver radiation therapy using advanced equipment, imaging technologies and powerful computers working seamlessly together. Our TrueBeam™ radiotherapy system is an integrated tool designed to deliver a range of different radiation therapies efficiently and effectively.

  • Skilled technical staff: Our staff is specially trained in radiation oncology and the technologies necessary to deliver the best possible care. Our team includes:

    • Dosimetrists who locate the position of the tumor and determine the best pathways for radiation beams to target it without damaging healthy tissue

    • Physicists who calibrate the machines to make sure we deliver the correct amount of radiation to the tumor to destroy the cancer cells

    • Radiation therapists who operate the equipment and make sure that you receive the best care

  • Care for the whole patient: We want your radiation treatments to be as positive an experience for you as possible. If you need help with transportation, babysitting, paying electricity bills or anything else that may get in the way of your treatment, we will do our best to get you the help you need.

  • Highest national standards: We are accredited by the American College of Radiology Oncology. The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer has designated us a Comprehensive Community Cancer Program (CCCP). This designation means that we meet or exceed the highest, most rigorous criteria for cancer centers in the country. Read more about our designation by the Commission on Cancer.

How We Target Cancer Cells With External Beam Radiation

External beam radiation is the most common type of radiation therapy for cancer. Your radiation technologist delivers a beam of X-rays or gamma rays into the tumor to destroy, damage or slow the growth of cancer cells.

With advanced radiation equipment, software and imaging technologies, we can precisely target the tumor and avoid damage to nearby healthy tissue. Our external beam radiation therapy features:

  • Tumor mapping: Tumors can be irregular in shape and size. We use sophisticated imaging technologies including computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans. Our imaging technologists create 3-D images of the tumor and map exactly where it is in the body. We use these maps to precisely target the tumor for radiation treatment.

  • Pinpoint targeting: Our radiation equipment can focus beams of radiation on a tumor with pinpoint accuracy. This precision means that we do less damage to nearby healthy tissue and cause fewer side effects for you. If you do experience side effects, your doctor can prescribe medications to relieve them.

  • Preservation of healthy tissue: Beams of radiation can damage the tissue they pass through on their way to the tumor. We minimize damage to healthy tissue by changing the angle of the beams. This way, the healthy cells receive only very small doses of radiation while the cancer cells receive high doses for effective treatment.

  • Precision placement: Radiation therapy works best when the tumor is treated repeatedly with the correct amount of radiation. A dosimetrist, a medical technician who specializes in determining proper dose amounts and timing, measures you and calculates the best pathways and angles to direct the radiation. For your series of radiation treatments, we may create molds or shields to ensure that you are in the exact same position on each visit for more effective therapy.

More Radiation Options Mean Greater Benefits

Not all cancers are the same. That’s why we have several different external beam radiation therapies. We tailor the type of therapy to best suit the type or location of the cancer. This approach maximizes the effectiveness of the treatment and produces better outcomes for you.

Your radiation therapy options may include one or more of the following types, depending on your individual case:

  • Low-dose multiple visits: In the most common form of radiation therapy, we treat a tumor once a day, 5 days a week for 2 to 10 weeks. Healthy cells recover quickly from low doses of radiation, whereas cancer cells are slower to recover. Our radiation oncologists calculate the precise dose needed to destroy cancer cells without damaging healthy tissue.

  • Skin-deep treatments: For many types of skin cancers, we do not want the radiation to penetrate beneath the skin to avoid damaging the underlying tissues. In these cases, we use superficial radiation therapy to deliver repeated doses of radiation just to the cancer cells in your skin.

  • Stereotactic radiosurgery: This type of radiation therapy delivers high doses of radiation very precisely in short bursts. We use it for cancers close to delicate organs, such as certain types of brain tumors and prostate cancers. It is most effective for small tumors with well-defined edges.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy: We use this technique to deliver high doses of radiation to precise spots, especially when the tissue around the tumor is delicate. We consider stereotactic body radiation an option for lung cancer and for small tumors on organs like the liver or kidney.

 

CONTACT US

To learn more about our cancer center services please call (217) 223-1200.