RADIATION ONCOLOGY

As the area leader in cancer care, the physicians of the Woodlands Radiation Oncology division know that a major part of your treatment is empowerment. Our knowledgeable staff – along with our experienced and devoted physicians – bring a level of care and customized, evidence-based treatment plans that lighten the load and move you toward the right path to recovery. No other team treats more cancer patients in the community.

Radiation therapy is a powerful tool in the fight against cancer, employing carefully regulated doses of high-energy beams to target cancer cells directly. These cells, which grow and divide more rapidly than their healthy counterparts, are halted in their tracks as the radiation splits their DNA and chromosomes, preventing further growth and division. At Woodlands, we harness this technology to treat various cancers across different body areas using external radiation therapy, aiming precisely at the treatment site to minimize impact on healthy cells.

Radiation therapy stands as one of the most common cancer treatments, serving multiple purposes: it targets cancer cells, alleviates symptoms associated with cancer, and helps prevent cancer recurrence. It can be administered alone or alongside other treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or targeted therapy. At the heart of your care is a dedicated radiation oncologist, part of a comprehensive team of cancer specialists. This team, which includes experts in medical and surgical oncology, reconstructive surgery, pathology, interventional radiology, and genetics, collaborates to develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique needs.

Radiation therapy harnesses powerful beams of energy to precisely target cancer sites while minimizing impact on surrounding organs and tissues. Cancer cells tend to grow and divide more rapidly than healthy cells; radiation therapy works by inhibiting this process, effectively stopping cancer cells from multiplying and forming new cancerous growths. Although nearby healthy cells may be exposed to radiation, they have the capacity to recover. The therapy is carefully directed at the specific area of the body requiring treatment to reduce the effect on healthy cells.

One common approach is external radiation, which uses high-energy rays directed at the tumor from outside the body. Your cancer care team will collaborate with you to determine the most appropriate and effective method tailored to your specific cancer treatment needs.

The goals of radiation therapy are varied and depend on the patient and their cancer. Your physician may recommend radiation therapy for any of the following reasons:

  • To cure or shrink your early-stage cancer
  • To prevent cancer from coming back in other parts of the body
  • To treat symptoms caused by advanced cancer
  • To treat cancer that has returned

If you’re just beginning radiation therapy, you may be hearing new and unfamiliar terminology. While this can be overwhelming, you can and should always ask your care team to clarify anything you may not understand. Here are some terms you may hear:

  • LINAC: This is a medical linear accelerator that customizes high-energy rays to the shape of the tumor, allowing it to target cancer cells without affecting the surrounding healthy tissue.
  • Fractions: Radiation therapy can be divided into several treatment sessions over multiple weeks, splitting doses into multiple ‘fractions.” This increases the effect on cancer cells without affecting healthy cells.
  • Simulation: This is a practice run of your radiation therapy; you will not receive radiation during a simulation. Your team will identify the tumor location using imaging scans. They may place a mark on your skin to help aim the radiation beam at the tumor.
  • Dosimetrist: This member of your care team helps your radiation oncologist determine the correct dose of radiation.
  • Radiation Oncologist: This is a physician who specializes in using radiation therapy to treat cancer. They oversee your treatment and work closely with other treatment team members on your treatment plan. 
  • Radiation Oncology Nurse: Your nurse is there to answer any questions you may have during treatment, monitor your health, and help you manage any side effects.
  • Radiation Therapist: This member of your team will operate the machines used in your radiation therapy and give you your treatment.
  • Physicist: A physicist specializing in cancer treatments will work with the radiation oncologist to plan each radiation treatment to ensure the right amount of radiation is delivered to the correct area of the body. They also help make any changes needed once the patient begins treatment.

External radiation therapy directs high-energy rays into the tumor from outside of the body.

  • Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT): This therapy uses special equipment to position the patient and deliver high doses of carefully focused radiation to tumors in the body. The total dose is usually given in a few days and helps avoid healthy tissue.
  • Vision RT: This technology uses a 3D camera to position the patient during treatment, increasing the accuracy of radiation delivery and improving patient comfort.
  • Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT): Computer-generated images are used to deliver high doses of radiation to the tumor while avoiding surrounding tissue. This therapy uses beams at multiple angles to shape the radiation dose to the tumor. The higher dose delivered directly to the tumor increases the success rate of the treatment, while the lower dose to surrounding tissue results in fewer side effects.
  • Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT):  Prior to each radiation treatment, imaging is used to take a computer-generated photo of the tumor to guide the radiation beam during treatment. This helps improve accuracy while avoiding healthy tissue.

Every patient is different, and so is their cancer treatment. While your care team at Woodlands can answer any questions you may have prior to beginning radiation therapy, here’s what you can generally expect as you begin treatment:

  • Before you begin radiation therapy, your care team will plan your treatment with a simulation. You will lie on the imaging scanner in the same position you will be in during treatment. Your team may mark a spot on your skin to help aim the radiation beam.
  • Treatment sessions are generally short, lasting only a few minutes. You will not feel the radiation during the treatment. As you receive the radiation, you will be monitored by your radiation therapist. The total number of treatments you receive will be determined by your care team.
  • While it’s rare to notice side effects while radiation is being administered, you may experience side effects after treatment. Please talk to your physician about potential side effects for your specific treatment.
  • During treatment, you can expect to regularly check in with your radiation oncologist and radiation oncology nurse to evaluate side effects and address any of your concerns. 
  • After treatment is completed, your physician will schedule follow-up appointments as needed.

PHYSICIANS

Woodlands Medical Specialists Coyt A. Rountree, M.D.

Coyt A. Rountree, M.D.
RADIATION ONCOLOGY

PROVIDER

Nikki Kelley, APRN
RADIATION ONCOLOGY

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