About half of all people with cancer are treated with radiation therapy. It is used for many types of cancer, including cancers of the head and neck, skin cancers, uterine and cervical cancers in women, Hodgkin's disease, leukemia, prostate cancer in men, and lung cancer. For some cancer patients, radiation therapy is the only kind of treatment needed. Radiation therapy can help cure many different kinds of cancer. It can also be used to relieve cancer symptoms such as pain, pressure or bleeding when a cure isn't possible.
Many patients find that quality of life improves after treatment with radiation therapy.
The Treatment Team Radiation oncologists are doctors who have advanced training and experience in treating cancer patients with radiation. During your first visit to the Center for Cancer Care, you will meet your radiation oncologist. Simulation Radiation simulation is the first step patients undergo during the treatment planning process. Western Baptist Hospital's simulator uses CAT Scan technology to help isolate the exact location and size of the tumor. During simulation, the area that is going to be treated is outlined and fluoroscopic X-rays and CAT Scans are used to pinpoint the tumor.