Radiation Therapy
 

At the heart of Saint John's Cancer Services is The Cancer Center, where patients receive radiation therapy treatments. World-class technology and an experienced team of dedicated medical professional combine to make the Cancer Center the region's center of excellence in radiation therapy. The Cancer Center features state-of-the-art equipment, including a Saturne 43 linear accelerator and a new Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) linear accelerator. IMRT is the latest available technology in the nation for radiation therapy. IMRT is designed to better “shape” the radiation to the tumor, thus sparing a greater percentage of normal tissue. The Saturne 43 linear accelerator is among the most versatile pieces of radiation therapy equipment available today.

Brachytherapy
 

The latest in prostate cancer therapy, brachytherapy, is also available through the Cancer Center. In this procedure, radioactive seeds are placed in the prostate gland through a hollow needle. Success rates through this new procedure have been excellent, and patients need only one treatment with few follow-up exams.

A radiation treatment planning system computer and a CT treatment simulator offer valuable assistance to the radiation oncologists in planning individualized treatments