ALL DEFINITIONS

Radiation Therapy

Definition

Radiation therapy is a medical treatment that uses high-energy particles or waves, such as x-rays, gamma rays, electron beams, or protons, to destroy or damage cancer cells. It can be used as a primary treatment for cancer or in combination with other treatments, such as surgery or chemotherapy.

Gynecologic Radiotherapy
Our program has a long history of developing and utilizing various brachytherapy procedures for gynecologic malignancies. We evaluate patients in a multidisciplinary fashion in conjunction with physicians from Yale Cancer Center’s Gynecologic Oncology program. We recommend individualized treatment programs after consultation with both gynecologic oncology and radiation oncology services. Our team has significant experience in caring for and treating women with all types of gynecologic malignancies. Our available therapies include external beam radiotherapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and treatment strategies combining external beam and brachytherapy (both interstitial and intracavitary). Chemotherapy is also available and can be incorporated into treatment plans.
Gastrointestinal Radiotherapy
Our radiation oncologists are experts in the management of esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, hepatic, biliary, rectal, and anal cancers using both 3-D conformal and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). We care for patients with gastrointestinal cancers using the latest in 4-D CT simulation and image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) equipment to ensure that we deliver radiation treatment with precision and accuracy. A noninvasive technique, stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) can help some patients with tumors of the liver that cannot be treated with surgery or other local therapies. SBRT provides extremely high doses of radiation with a high level of accuracy to some liver cancer tumors. This precise treatment also results in less radiation delivered to surrounding tissue, with fewer side effects.
Head & Neck Radiotherapy
Radiation is a critical part of treatment for almost all advanced head and neck cancers, and can be delivered alone or combined with chemotherapy before or after surgery. Precise radiation techniques are vital for patients with head and neck tumors, since crucial structures that are often very close to tumors must be avoided.Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) accurately targets tumors while minimizing damage to normal surrounding tissue.

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