Radiation Therapy

We use advanced treatment planning and leading- edge technologies to provide patients with the most effective treatments possible.

The Brookwood Baptist Cancer Center uses a TrueBeam® linear accelerator, one of the most advanced radiation therapy delivery systems available, to deliver powerful cancer treatments with pinpoint accuracy, precision and speed.

Here are some examples:

External Beam Radiation Therapy – Radiation therapy guided by onboard imaging to treat cancerous tissue while avoiding healthy tissue
Rapid Arc / Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) – uses advanced 3D technology to conform high-dose radiation beams to the shape of the tumor, reducing exposure to healthy tissue.
Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) Breast Treatments – respiratory motion is monitored to reduce unnecessary dose to heart and lung tissues
Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) – delivers a non-invasive alternative to surgery with high-doses of radiation to smaller tumors in the body, reducing the number of treatments required.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) – delivers a non-invasive alternative to surgery with high- doses of radiation to smaller tumors in localized areas of the brain and spine with great precision.
CyberKnife® gives patients new hope for the treatment of tumors, including those previously diagnosed as inoperable or untreatable. It also provides an excellent non-invasive alternative to traditional surgery. CyberKnife at Brookwood provides advanced technology to improve our patient’s quality of life and significantly reduce the amount of time needed to fully treat both malignant and benign tumors.
Brachytherapy – a radioactive source is placed inside or next to the area requiring treatment. This sometimes results in a shortened course of treatment

With a combined experience level totaling over 50 years, our radiation oncologist are experienced providers of brachytherapy for breast, prostate, skin, lung, and gynecological cancers and over ten years’ of experience using CyberKnife for radiosurgery. These oncologists work in collaboration with a team of multi-disciplinary cancer specialists, along with you and your family, to make the best possible care decisions—and to make sure you have the most comfortable, compassionate care along the way. If you have questions, call the Cancer Center at 205.877.2273.

Our team in developing an individualized treatment plan based on the location and size of the cancer. The radiation therapy process includes a consultation, CT simulation, treatment planning, and the actual radiation treatments.

What to Expect During Treatment:

Consultation: During the consultation, the radiation oncologist will obtain a medical history, perform a physical examination, and may order any additional tests or scans.
CT Simulation: Simulation allows the radiation team to see the area that needs to be treated and obtain images of the tumor.
Treatment Planning: Using the images obtained in simulation, the radiation team develops individualized treatment plans ensuring that the proper radiation dose is delivered to the tumor while sparing healthy tissue.
Radiation Treatment: During treatment, you will lie still on the treatment table while the radiation is delivered to the exact area of the tumor. The radiation team will not be in the same room during treatment, but will be able to see and hear you at all times. Typical duration of radiation treatment depends upon the prescribed therapy from the physician. The duration of treatments may only be one, three or five times, or alternatively last consecutive days over a number of weeks. Generally each treatment takes about 15-30 minutes.

The radiation oncologist will meet with you weekly to determine how your body is reacting to the treatments. Let your doctor, nurse or therapist know if you are having any symptoms or reactions to the treatment. If you have questions, call the Cancer Center at 205.877.2273.