Now he is getting radiation therapy to make sure no cancer cells remain. IMRT is a new technology in radiation therapy where we're able to deliver doses more uniformly to a tumor and help spare normal tissue, said Mayo Clinic Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Michele Halyard. With traditional radiation therapy, doctors direct many beams at a tumor from many angles. With IMRT, each of the beams is broken into smaller segments called beamlets. A computer controls the placement and intensity of each beamlet.
Radiation hits the tumor and avoids sensitive tissue like the eyes.
It's the difference between painting with a broad brush and painting with a fine brush. So, it gives us a lot more control of the radiation dose. It enables us to put it where we want it and to avoid the tissue we want to avoid, said Mayo Clinic Medical Physicist, Dr. Gary Ezzell. IMRT is not suitable for all cancers, but because it is so effective at targeting tumors, it may become the treatment of choice for cancers near critical structures like the prostate or eyes. The side effects from IMRT are similar to standard radiation therapy, and depend on where it is delivered to the body.