Bethke Cancer Center
Radiation oncology: Treatment is increasingly precise
Approximately 50 percent of individuals who are diagnosed with cancer have radiation therapy as part of their treatment plan. Fortunately, Emerson offers patients the newest technology, including 3D treatment planning close to home and in a setting designed for comfort and convenience. The program’s affiliation with MGH means that Emerson patients have access to additional resources, including specialized treatment, when needed.
The past decade or so has brought a succession of advances to the field of radiation oncology. Single-beam, two-dimensional treatment gave way to 3D conformal radiation therapy, which allowed us to map the contours of the tumor. Now we have IMRT—intensity-modulated radiation therapy—technology that lets us control the intensity of each radiation beam. As a result, we are able to focus a higher radiation dose on the tumor while minimizing the exposure to healthy tissue. Patients experience fewer side effects.
In the fall of 2006, we began providing IMRT to our patients at Emerson Hospital, which means they don’t have to travel to Boston to receive the most current treatment. This technology represents a true breakthrough because:
• By modulating the number of fields and the intensity of radiation with each field, we have unlimited possibilities to sculpt the radiation dose.
• Our advanced treatment planning software produces unsurpassed precision.
• We employ computer optimization techniques that complement physician and physicist expertise in order to define the individual beam angle and weight.
