Radiation Oncology

Saint Luke's offers leading-edge radiation therapy treatments designed and administered by board-certified radiation oncologists. Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-ray and electron beams or radioactive implants to destroy cancer cells. Our multidisciplinary radiation therapy care team also includes physicists, dosimetrists, therapists, and nurses.

With three metro locations, patients have access to treatment close to their home or work.

Our comprehensive suite of radiation treatments include:

• 3D conformal external beam radiation
• High-dose brachytherapy for gynecological cancer
• SAVI®/MammoSite® for breast cancer
• Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
• RapidArc® (volumetric intensity modulated radiation therapy)
• Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT)
• Respiratory gated therapy
• Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)
• Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT)
• Deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH)
• Hypofractionated prostate treatments
• Surface-guided radiation therapy (SGRT)

About Radiation Therapy Treatment

Radiation therapy treatment begins with an in-depth discussion between the patient and radiation oncologist. We understand discussing cancer treatment can be overwhelming. We encourage patients to bring a family member or a close friend for support. If it’s decided that radiation therapy is the best option, a treatment planning visit, called a simulation, will be scheduled.

During a simulation visit, we will perform a CT scan of the proposed treatment area and create a treatment plan targeting the cancer while protecting other nearby healthy tissue. The treatment plan goes through numerous rounds of tests and checks by the team to ensure it’s optimized to meet the patient’s needs. Once the treatment plan is finalized, the team will schedule treatment.

Treatment Schedule

As part of our customized treatment approach, the frequency and length of treatments varies based on the patient’s needs. Patients typically receive external beam radiation treatments on an outpatient basis, five days a week, over a period defined by the radiation oncologist. Each treatment session lasts approximately 10 to 30 minutes. Treatment is usually spread over multiple weeks to allow healthy cells to recover between radiation therapy sessions. However, in some cases, a patient may meet the criteria for a short course of radiation treatments and be able to complete radiation in five treatments.

Continuing Care

After radiation treatments are complete, the care team will schedule follow-up appointments to check on the patient’s progress and quickly address any new issues.