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Radiation therapy

An oncologist is a type of doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer. One type of treatment an oncologist may use is radiation therapy, which destroys cancer cells through beams of strong energy.

Radiation oncologists in Palm Beach County, Florida

When you need radiation therapy, you want to know you have a trusted team of radiologists on your side.

That's where the radiology specialists at HCA Florida JFK Hospital's Comprehensive Cancer Institute come in. They take time to determine the best method of radiation therapy for you. We offer three types they may choose from: external beam radiation, brachytherapy and radiosurgery.

Radiation therapy treatment planning and services

Medical imaging technology plays a crucial role in accurately planning for radiation treatment.

We use the following diagnostic imaging procedures as planning tools in radiation treatment:

  • 16-slice large-bore computerized tomography (CT) scanning
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  • Positron emission tomography (PET) scan with CT scan (PET/CT)

These medical imaging tools allow our radiation team to identify tumor regions for treatment as well as critical organs and tissues that need protection during radiation treatment.

To learn more about our radiation therapy services, please call (561) 964-2662. Our office is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00am to 4:00pm.

Types of radiation therapy we offer

Radiation therapy can be administered from the outside of your body or from the inside, by implanting a radioactive source. The method your radiation oncologist chooses will depend on the type of cancer you have and the location of your tumor.

External beam radiation

External beam radiation is a noninvasive treatment that supplies radiation from outside your body. We offer a range of different technologies and techniques to perform external beam radiation, including:

  • 3D conformal radiation therapy — This technology shapes the radiation beams being administered to match the size and shape of the targeted tumor.
  • 3D virtual simulation — We use this technology to show you a 3D example of your planned radiation treatment by employing imaging tools like CT and PET/CT scans.
  • Image-guided target localization — This technique allows our radiation team to precisely target the tumor or site of localized radiation treatment. We do this with technologies that include ultrasound, X-rays and cone-beam CT (where X-rays form a cone shape).
  • Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) — This is high-precision radiotherapy that uses computer-controlled linear accelerators to provide specific radiation doses to a cancerous tumor or areas within the tumor.
  • Respiratory-gated radiation therapy — This process allows movement of a tumor to be continuously monitored while you breathe normally. Radiation is only delivered when the tumor is properly aligned and stops when it moves out of the target area.
  • Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) — This form of noninvasive radiation therapy uses highly targeted, precise radiation beams to treat tumors in the brain.
  • Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) — This technique is similar to stereotactic radiosurgery but is used to treat tumors in the body, most commonly in the breast, lung, bladder and colon.
Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT)

We offer robotic radiosurgery as an option to treat tumors noninvasively. Despite the name, this pain-free treatment method is not surgery but is a type of radiation therapy instead.

Robotic radiosurgery differs from conventional surgery in several ways because it:

  • Can treat a broad range of tumors throughout the body
  • Uses image-guidance software to continuously adjust treatment
  • Uses radiation to treat the tumor without affecting healthy tissue

It may work well if you have a complex or inoperable tumor. It can also be a good option if you are looking for an alternative to surgery. The treatment accurately delivers beams of high-dose radiation to tumors, which results in fewer treatments.

Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy is a form of radiation therapy that is delivered internally by implanting tiny radioactive "seeds" directly into the tumor to kill cancer cells. We offer the following types of brachytherapy:

  • High-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy — This is a primary treatment for gynecological cancer. It offers shorter and fewer radiation treatments, typically on an outpatient basis.
  • Interstitial and intracavitary implants — This lets doctors deliver radioactive seeds through a needle or catheter (interstitial) into the tissues of the body or through a delivery device into the affected area (intracavitary).
  • High-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy — This form of radiation is ideal for patients with early-stage breast cancer. It uses an implantable delivery system to provide internal radiation after a lumpectomy.
  • Specialized radiation treatment – We use the latest FDA-cleared treatment for operable brain tumors. This surgically targeted radiation therapy provides immediate, dose-intense treatment at the surgical site after tumor removal. Using small tiles to provide targeted radiation, this treatment aims to destroy any remaining cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. This innovative approach helps to enhance the effectiveness of treatment and reduce potential side effects.
    The radiation process lasts approximately six weeks, and the body naturally resorbs the tiles.

How radiation therapy treats cancer

Radiation therapy is an important component of cancer care. Here is how it works:

  • During radiation therapy, beams of energy or radioactive particles are aimed directly at a tumor or location in the body that has been affected by cancer.
  • The radiation therapy kills cancer cells or keeps them from growing and spreading.
  • Many factors will impact when and how radiation therapy is used to treat cancer, but it may be used in combination with chemotherapy or before or after surgery.
  • For terminally ill patients, radiation therapy may be used to improve quality of life.

Related specialties

Learn more about our related specialties

Our Radiation therapy Locations

Currently Viewing:

JFK Hospital
5301 S Congress Ave
Atlantis, FL 33462
 (561) 965-7300

Currently Viewing:

JFK Hospital
5301 S Congress Ave
Atlantis, FL 33462
 (561) 965-7300
Mercy Hospital
3663 S Miami Ave
Miami, FL 33133
 (305) 854 - 4400

59.8 miles