Radiation Therapy

The Department or Radiation Oncology is a joint program with the University of Chicago’s Center for Radiation Oncology. The medical staff is comprised of some of the leading experts in the management of cancers of the prostate, breast, gastrointestinal tract, brain and head & neck as well as lymphomas and sarcomas.  We specialize in radiation therapy treatments, including megavoltage photons and electrons from linear accelerators, brachytherapy, and superficial X-rays. Special programs are stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) for brain lesions, total body irradiation (TBI), intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT), superficial therapy, endocavitary therapy, and ophthalmic plaques.  Patient care is achieved through the collaborative efforts of highly trained professionals with extensive knowledge in the field of Radiation Therapy.  

It is estimated that approximately 60-70% of the people diagnosed with cancer will require radiation therapy. Utilizing knowledge, state-of-the-art equipment and the expertise of our staff, the Medical Center’s Radiation Oncology Department is able to individualize each patient’s treatment.

Radiation therapy often begins with a simulation in which customized devices are created for each individual patient to ensure accurate daily positioning on the treatment machine. Next, many patients receive a CT scan in the Department’s AcQSim CT scanner. The Radiation Oncologist uses these scans to identify the tumor to be treated, and the normal tissues to avoid. Under the direction of a Radiation Oncologist and Medical Physicist, the Dosimetrist develops treatment plans and performs dose calculations necessary for delivering the prescribed radiation treatments. The Radiation Therapists are responsible for delivering daily treatments and implementing the complex computer generated treatment plans developed by the physics section. Throughout the entire process, extensive quality assurance checks are performed to ensure the safe and accurate delivery of radiation.

Services offered include:

• Conventional Radiotherapy
• Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
• Brachytherapy procedures such as Low (LDR), High Dose Rate Brachytherapy (HDR) and Eye Plaques are also offered

Treatments are given Monday through Friday for 2 to 8 weeks, depending on the planned course of treatment.

For more information about the Department of Radiation Oncology, please call 312-996-3632.