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Radiation Treatment Technologies Unduplicated in the Region The team of physicians at Northeast Radiation Oncology Center (NROC) offers the most comprehensive, advanced radiation therapy technologies available in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Doctors at NROC carefully advise patients about which type of radiation therapy is most effective for their type and stage of cancer. Radiation treatment and treatment planning technologies available at NROC include:
External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT): EBRT is the most common type of radiation therapy used for treating cancer. It is called “external beam” because a concentrated beam of radiation is delivered from an external source, known as a linear accelerator, directly into the tumor site. EBRT has been highly effective for many years in treating cancer. Numerous advances in perfecting EBRT continue to improve the precision and usefulness of this standard therapy. Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT): IMRT is the latest form of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) available for cancer treatment. State-of-the-art IMRT utilized at NROC allows the delivery of a maximum dose of radiation to the tumor site with minimum damage to the surrounding healthy tissue. This means patients experience few, if any, unwanted side effects from their therapy and they can maintain a normal, healthy life style during their radiation treatments. IMRT delivers very small beams, or beamlets, of radiation aimed at the tumor from many angles. The intensity and shape of the beamlets change constantly during each treatment to conform to the individual treatment site. As a result, the radiation dose bends to target the cancerous tissue directly, avoiding damage to surrounding health tissue.
Brachytherapy is a specialized form of radiation treatment. At NROC, brachytherapy is most often used for men with prostate cancer and for women with early-stage breast cancer or cancer of the reproductive organs. It is also helpful for patients with cancer of the mouth and throat, and for some patients with cancer of the esophagus, lung, or bile duct. Brachy is derived from the Greek word meaning short. Brachytherapy delivers an intense form of radiation over a short distance through small needles or catheters directly into the tumor site, or near the site, to destroy the cancer cells. NROC physicians have extensive experience in providing Brachytherapy and have treated more people with Brachytherapy than most other physicians in Pennsylvania. NROC utilizes the most innovative types of brachytherapy available. Also known as internal radiation, implant radiation, or interstitial radiation therapy, brachytherapy is highly accurate and delivers maximum effectiveness of the radiation in eliminating the tumor. Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer: Men with prostate cancer have 2 very effective types of brachytherapy to choose from at NROC facilities:
MammoSite Brachytherapy for Early Stage Breast Cancer: Some women with early stage breast cancer who have elected to have a lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy are eligible for a brachytherapy procedure known as MammoSite radiation treatment. Unlike standard external beam radiation following lumpectomy, which takes 5 to 7 weeks, MammSite therapy is delivered directly to the affected breast tissue over a period of 5 days.
Other Specialized Therapies Radioactive Iodine
1-131 therapy and Follow-up Clinic: NROC physicians provide radioactive
iodine treatment (I 131) for people who require this highly specialized therapy
and follow-up care after the entire or partial removal of their thyroid because
of cancer. Mercy Hospital in Scranton, which is an NROC partner, is the only
facility in Lackawanna County licensed and equipped for the inpatient stay that
is necessary for this procedure. Radioimmunotherapy: NROC physicians provide the state-of-the-art radioimmunotherapy for patients with certain types of B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Also known as “liquid radiation”, radioimmunotherapy is available in Northeastern Pennsylvania only at NROC. Radioisotope Therapy:
NROC physicians provide a sophisticated new radiation treatment known as
radioisotope therapy for patients who are experiencing bone pain as a result of
the spread of their cancer. Radioisotope treatments are available in
Northeastern Pennsylvania only at NROC. Stereotactic
Radiosurgery and Stereotactic Radiotherapy: NROC
physicians provide these two highly specialized stereotactic radiation treatment
options for patients with certain types of brain tumors.
To assure accurate positioning for each patient for each treatment, the NROC professionals design individual position immobilizing frames and also utilize advanced imaging devices for daily treatment monitoring such as:
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