Radiation Oncology

More than half of all people with cancer will require radiation therapy at some time during the course of their treatment. Our expert radiation oncologists and technical staff carefully plan and monitor each treatment to be sure patients receive the safest and most accurate care available.

There are different types of radiation therapy. Your radiation oncologist will discuss with you which type is the best intervention for your diagnosis.

3-D Conformal therapy — Uses CT imaging to plan and direct radiation therapy treatments only to the areas of interest, sparing normal tissue.

TomoTherapy® — combines CT imaging with advanced intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) to deliver more precise treatment with fewer side effects. TomoTherapy is used most often to treat tumors of the prostate, head, neck and brain. Advocate Good Samaritan is one of only a few hospitals in Illinois to offer TomoTherapy.

Read about one man's experience with TomoTherapy.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery — delivers a highly concentrated dose of radiation precisely directed at a brain tumor or abnormality. Conditions treated with stereotactic radiosurgery include primary brain tumors, some metastatic brain tumors, arteriovenous malformations, and acoustic neuromas.

High dose rate (HDR) Brachytherapy — delivers a radioactive source directly to the tumor site. HDR brachytherapy is frequently used to treat endometrial and cervical cancers. HDR brachytherapy may also used to treat prostate cancer, lung and esophageal tumors, sarcomas, and tumors of the head and neck.

MammoSite® Brachytherapy — delivers high dose rate brachytherapy to the breast for women who have undergone lumpectomy. Women who are eligible for this treatment can complete radiation in as little as 5 days.

Read patient stories about their experiences with MammoSite® therapy.

Radioactive Seed Implantation — Delivers radiation via radioactive seeds that are implanted into the prostate, emitting radiation to destroy cancerous cells. Accurate placement of seeds ensures that the prostate receives the necessary dose of radiation while minimizing its effects on healthy tissue surrounding the prostate.

Additional Information

Radiation Oncology Patient Forms 

Frequently asked questions about radiation therapy

Radiation Oncology Helpful Tips