Radiation Therapy
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and Keck Medicine of USC have partnered to provide advanced Radiation Oncology Services for the treatment of various forms of cancer.
What is Radiation Therapy?
Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, is the use of radiation to safely and effectively treat cancer and other diseases. Radiation therapy works by damaging the genetic material within cancer cells. Once this happens, the cancer cells are not able to grow and spread. When these damaged cancer cells die, the body naturally removes them. Normal cells are also affected by radiation, but they are able to repair themselves in a way that cancer cells cannot. Your radiation oncologist will develop a plan to deliver the radiation to the tumor area, shielding as much surrounding normal tissue as possible. Your radiation oncologist may recommend using radiation therapy in a number of different ways. Often, the goal is to cure the cancer. In this case, radiation therapy may be used to:
- Eliminate tumors that have not spread to other parts of your body.
- Reduce the risk that cancer will return after you undergo surgery or chemotherapy by killing cancer cells that might remain.
- Shrink the cancer before surgery.
Sometimes, the goal is to reduce the symptoms caused by growing tumors, improving your quality of life. When radiation therapy is given for this purpose, it is called palliative care or palliation. In this instance, radiation may be used to:
- Shrink tumors that are harming your quality of life, such as a lung tumor that is causing problems with breathing.
- Relieve pain by reducing the size of a tumor.
It is important for you to discuss the goal of your treatment with your radiation oncologist.
What are the different kinds of radiation?
The goal of radiation therapy is to deliver enough radiation to kill the cancer cells while preventing damage to healthy tissue. There are several ways to do this. Depending on the location, size and type of cancer, you may receive one or a combination of techniques. Your treatment team will help you decide which treatments are best for you.
Radiation therapy can generally be delivered in three ways:
- External beam radiation therapy: The treatment team uses a machine outside the body to direct radiation beams such as high-energy X-rays at the cancer.
- Brachytherapy: This involves placing radioactive sources (for example, radioactive seeds) in or near the tumor.
- Systemic radiation therapy: Radioactive drugs are given to the patient and travel through the bloodstream to treat cancer throughout the body.
What Conditions can you treat using Radiation Therapy
Radiation Therapy can be used to treat a wide range of cancers and is often using in conjunction with surgery and/or infusion therapy.
Radiation Therapy includes:
What makes our Radiation Therapy program different?
Our world class radiation oncology experts specialize in different types of cancer and design your treatment plan based on your specific cancer type and stage. We use breakthrough technologies, such as advanced image guidance and radiosurgery systems, to treat tumors previously thought to be inoperable.
Our goal is to deliver compassionate, comprehensive care, through a collaborative team that’s dedicated to understanding your needs and concerns. You benefit from our expertise and custom treatment plans.
We are ranked among the top programs in the nation for high-quality cancer care, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Additionally, We offer access to groundbreaking clinical trials, connecting you to innovative, cutting-edge treatment options.
Our Expert Team
May Lin Tao, M.D. – Director of Cancer Programs, Keck Medicine of USC & Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, Keck Medicine of USC, Radiation Oncology
Clinic Location
Address: 25751 McBean Parkway, Suite 110, Santa Clarita, CA, 91604
For more information or to schedule an appointment please call: 661.839.1810
661.200.2000
