Radiation Oncology

Radiation Therapy is the use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.

Alabama Cancer Care brings advanced radiation oncology technologies such as Rapid Arc Therapy (RAT) and High Definition Multi-Leaf Collimator (HDMLC) based Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) to our local residents in Alabama. We have extensive experience in treating all cancer types.

Today, our Radiation Oncology department continues to bring you the very best in comprehensive radiation services. From image-guided intensity modulated radiation therapy (IGRT with-IMRT) to frameless stereotactic radiosurgery, our elite team of physicians, physicists, nurses and radiation therapists continues to advance the state of radiation technology, while providing the utmost in care to you.

External beam radiation treatments are delivered by a complex machine called Linear Accelerator. A modern linear accelerator produces pinpoint high-energy radiation. In many cases, the intensity of the radiation is varied or “modulated” to produce radiation dose distributions that closely resemble the shape of the target tumor. Thus, normal tissue is maximally spared (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy – IMRT). Before your daily treatment starts, lasers are used to match the tattoos on your skin; then, images taken with the linear accelerator digital imager will be collected real-time to check for proper positioning (Image Guided Radiation Therapy – IGRT). Then the linear accelerator starts the radiation beam. The beam can be “strobed” on and off depending upon breathing and other natural motions (Target Motion Management using Respiratory Gating) if you would benefit from it.

Our Radiation Oncology Technology

Image-Guided Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IG-IMRT)

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) produces a beam that precisely sculpts highly focused radiation around it to protect surrounding healthy tissue from collateral damage. Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) allows the physicians to see and analyze your tumor before treatment for precise delivery of radiation dose daily. These advancements in radiation technology have led to better tumor control, fewer side effects and patients can return to normal faster than with traditional radiation therapy.

Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) to precisely focus radiation beams to the tumor.

What are the advantages of IG-IMRT?

• CT imaging and dosimetry tools provide simultaneous treatment image and dose information in real time
• Accurate daily patient set-up (Cone beam CT)
• Conformal avoidance of radiosensitive structures
• Dose sculpting around complex shaped target volumes
• Minimizing radiation dose to healthy tissues
• Deliver complex prescription dose gradients close to sensitive tissues
• Accurate real time verification of dose delivered
• Accurate real time verification of beam targeting
• Ability to repair sub-optimal dose distributions
• Adoptive treatment planning: ability to adapt today’s treatment to yesterdays delivered dose pattern
  • Tumor response adaptation
  • Target and normal structures shifting adaptation

Rapid Arc Radiation Therapy

Rapid Arc™ is a new image-guided approach to radiation therapy that emits thousands of precisely focused beams that follow the exact contours of a cancerous tumor. The new technology delivers radiation in a single rotation around the patient, modulating the beams at every angle. The result is a precisely sculpted, three-dimensional radiation dose that covers the entire tumor while sparing healthy tissue. Approved for treatment of prostate, head and neck, lung, spine and other cancers, Rapid Arc™ represents a major turning point in cancer care.

A single radiation treatment for prostate cancer, which used to take from 20 to 30 minutes, has now been cut in less than half with Rapid Arc™.

Frameless and Framed Stereotactic Radiosurgery (FSRS)

Frameless Stereotactic Radiotherapy (FSRT) is a minimally invasive computer-aided procedure—used to treat patients with brain cancer—which delivers a highly concentrated dose of radiation with millimeter precision. By selectively targeting a precise area, there is a minimal effect on the surrounding areas of the brain. These treatments are generally completed in 1-2 weeks.

Framed Stereotactic RadioSurgery is a similar technique that we carry out in cooperation with the department of neurosurgery. In this case, a head frame is attached to the skull under local anesthesia to ensure sub-millimeter precision and treatments are delivered in a single session.

4-D Computed Tomography Planning and Delivery

In moving tumors precise targeting becomes a real issue. 4D RT has been very helpful in targeting lung and abdominal lesions which can move with breathing.

4D-IMRT for Abdominal Tumors- Liver, Bowel and Kidney sparing.

Your tumor (especially if located in the lung or abdomen) can move during radiation, even if you are laying still. When this happens, your tumor may not get the right amount of radiation. In addition, nearby nerves, muscles and organs that are healthy may receive unnecessary and unwanted radiation.

Conventional Computed Tomography (CT) uses x-rays to produce a 3D image of you. Movies are produced by showing a series of still images continuously so we see motion. In a similar fashion, our specially designed CT can produce a movie loop based on your breathing pattern. Since CTs are 3D, if we add time as a 4th dimension, we have a “4D CT” or a 3D movie loop showing the motion of your internal organs as you breathe. We can use this to help us treat you more effectively.

By tracking your breathing patterns, this system applies the radiation beam only when the tumor falls within the planned treatment field. You breathe naturally and remain comfortable throughout the entire procedure.

Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy—also known as radioactive seed implantation—is a very promising treatment for cervix cancer, uterine cancer, head neck cancer and early stages of prostate cancer. Using on-site computers to create individualized treatment plans, our physicians place radioactive sources in or near the tumor. This advanced procedure delivers a high dose of radiation directly to the tumor while reducing exposure to surrounding tissue. The procedure is performed on a day care basis and allows you to recover quickly.

Biological Image Guided Treatment Planning Using Image Fusion

With biological image guided treatment planning, our physicians can combine the latest in imaging technology, such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with computer data. The result is a precise anatomical definition and a more complete biological understanding of your tumor(s), which greatly enhances treatment planning and targeted delivery of radiation dose.

Research and Clinical trials:

We are committed to furthering our society’s understanding of and ability to treat, and even prevent, life threatening disease such as cancer.

Ultimately, our goal through research is to improve your care and deliver more successful treatment outcomes. To do this, we are committed to being at the forefront of translating new findings into the most effective and safe therapies available. We are working with our international partners to develop safer and more effective cancer treatments. Our areas of research include:

• Advanced radiation and physics technology
  • IG-IMRT and FFF
  • Shorter course stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT)
  • Frameless Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS)
  • 4-D Targeting and implication of moving targets
  • PET CT and biological treatment planning
• 3D Brachytherapy for lung, head neck, prostate and gynecologic cancers
• Biological planning in radiation oncology: PET CT and MR
• Radiation enhanced immunotherapy
• Targeted therapies and radiation
• Quality of life and patterns of care
• IMRT and IGRT standardization and dose measurement
• Target motion management using 4D imaging
• Breast cancer irradiation to avoid cardiac toxicity