Radiation therapy uses high levels of radiation delivered to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing and dividing and is a treatment option for most cancers. Radiation is often used after surgery to treat the area around the excised tumor — an area most prone to recurrence. External beam radiation techniques use a device called a linear accelerator to deliver high-dose X-rays to cancerous tissue. More and more, sophisticated image-guided systems allow radiation oncologists to "shape" the radiation dose exactly to outer limits of the tumor, delivering a higher dose of radiation with more precision and avoiding health tissues.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy
Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin have offered Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) since 2006. SBRT is a treatment technique that uses special equipment to position a patient and precisely deliver external radiation therapy to tumors in the body (except the brain).
TomoTherapy
TomoTherapy, a type of SBRT, is an advanced radiation therapy system that combines a unique spiral dose pattern with a built-in imaging unit. The spiral dose pattern enables the system to deliver radiation from hundreds of angles. The system's built-in CT scanner allows technicians to check the position of a tumor immediately before treatment, which gives physicians the flexibility to modify the treatment plan when tumors change in size or position. The Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Clinical Cancer Center was one of the first cancer programs in the nation with the TomoTherapy system.
Gamma Knife
Brain tumors and vascular disorders account for the majority of radiosurgical procedures performed today. Radiosurgical treatment provided by the Gamma Knife is effective at controlling tumor growth, and hemorrhaging from vascular malformations. This treatment procedure targets lesions in the brain so exactly that the risk of harming healthy tissue is minimized. In certain cases, Gamma Knife treatment may serve as an adjunct to standard neurosurgical therapy or as the preferred course of treatment when further traditional therapy is not recommended.