Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy x-ray or other particles to destroy cancer cells. A doctor who specializes in giving radiation therapy to treat cancer is called a radiation oncologist. A radiation therapy regimen, or schedule, usually consists of a specific number of treatments given over a set period.
Radiation therapy can treat many different types of cancer. It can also be used in combination with other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and/or surgery.
There are two primary categories of radiation therapy: external and brachytherapy (internal). The type of radiation given depends on many factors including:
- The type of cancer
- The size of the tumor
- Where the tumor is located in the body
- How close that tumor is to normal tissues that are sensitive to radiation
- Your general health and medical history
At New York Oncology Hematology, our radiation oncologists are using leading-edge technology to deliver precise doses of radiation to treat cancer. Both internal and external radiation works on a molecular level, damaging cancer cell to prevent them from growing or dividing.
New advances in radiation technology are allowing NYOH physicians to pinpoint radiation with even greater accuracy, sparing more healthy tissue and reducing side effects. Today, radiation therapy is quicker, safer and more precise than ever before.
NYOH’s team of radiation oncologists bring advanced expertise in today’s complex radiation therapy techniques. We are constantly upgrading our technology and our convenient office settings mean our patients can coordinate treatments around work and family schedules.
Our radiation team includes board-certified radiation oncologists who bring years of experience in caring for cancer patients, assisted by medical physicists, dosimetry, radiation therapists and oncology nursing support staff.
Each patient will have a customized treatment plan created for them by the team using the latest in radiation therapy technologies available in the Albany Capital Region area.
