The physicians and staff of the Saint Joseph's
radiation oncology department use various forms
of radiation to safely and effectively treat cancer
and other diseases. All physicians and technicians
are board certified in radiation oncology by the
American Board of Radiology.
Radiation
therapy damages the DNA within cancer cells
and destroys the cancer cells ability to reproduce.
When the damaged cancer cells die, the body eliminates
them. Normal cells may also affected by radiation
but they repair themselves in a way that cancer
cells cannot.
Radiation therapy may be the only treatment a
patient needs or it may a part of
treatment. For example, prostate and larynx cancer
are often treated with radiation alone, but breast
cancer may be treated with surgery, radiation
therapy and chemotherapy.
Radiation therapy may also be used as adjuvant
therapy to make primary treatment more effective.
For example, patients may be treated with radiation
therapy (the adjuvant treatment) before surgery
(the primary treatment) to help shrink the tumor
and allow less radical surgery, or patients may
be treated with radiation after surgery to destroy
microscopic cells that may have been left behind.
Radiation therapy may be used to cure the disease
or reduce symptoms and improve the quality
of life, called palliative
care or palliation.
Saint Joseph's radiation oncology department
offers a number of specialized programs including:
For more information about Saint Joseph’s
Florence Hays Erb Oncology Services, call 404-851-7115.
