Radiation Oncology
Why Radiation Therapy?
Radiation Therapy: the single most effective cancer-treating agent
Radiation therapy is the single most effective cancer-treating agent. Tumors are rarely resistant to radiation therapy. However, the effectiveness of radiation therapy is limited by its effects on normal tissues. But with better imaging and faster computers coupled with improved radiation delivery systems, we have improved our ability to localize the dose of radiation to the tumor-bearing area ("conformal"), sparing most normal tissues.
Our state-of-the-art facility
Located at Brigham and Women's Hospital, our state-of-the-art facility is equipped with cutting edge technology for the delivery of more localized, "conformal," radiation therapy. Currently, the division uses the following therapeutic machines to treat our patients:
- 1 state-of-the art Novalis linear accelerator with IMRT capability for intracranial lesions
- 1 dedicated total body irradiation facility
- 2 linear accelerators with IMRT capabilities for extra cranial tumors
- 2 linear accelerators
- 1 CT-simulator with virtual simulation capability
- 1 conventional simulator with digital features
- treatment planning computational and imaging computers
- specialized team for delivering anesthesia during simulation or radiotherapy treatments
