Cancer Technology and Treatment Options

Radiation Therapy

Radiation Therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses high energy X-Ray and sometime proton beams to target and kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy damages cells by destroying the genetic material that controls how the cells grow and divide.

What Should I Expect or Bring?

Treatments

St. Dominic’s offers several different modalities of how Radiation treatment is provided. Such modalities of treatment include the following:

External Bean Radiation

  • Image Guide Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
  • Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
  • BrainLab
  • RapidArc Radiotherapy
  • Novalis Tx Radiosurgery

High-Dose Brachytherapy

Radiopharmaceutical Therapy

Accelerated Partial Breast Radiation Therapy

  • Mammosite Radiation Therapy

Prostate Radioactive Seed Implantation

How long do radiation treatments last?

Radiation treatments usually last about 6-8 weeks. However, the length in time of the treatment depends on the modality of treatment selected what type of cancer is being treated, the area of the body being treated and the course of the treatment recommended by the radiation oncologist.

Infusion Therapy

Infusion Therapy is the administering of medication through a needle or catheter. Chemotherapy infusion delivers chemical substances, cytotoxic and other drugs through an IV, catheter, port or pump to treat cancer. Chemotherapy works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide quickly.

What Should I Expect or Bring?

Treatments

Outpatient Infusion Center services include:

  • Biotherapy
  • Blood transfusions
  • Chemotherapy
  • Hydration
  • Injections

How long does chemotherapy last?

Length of therapy can be 1 -6 hours depending on the drug and number of drugs administered each visit. The total length of therapy (total length of time patient receives chemotherapy) depends on the modality of treatment selected, what type of cancer is being treated, the area of the body being treated and the course of the treatment recommended by the oncologist.

Surgery

Surgery is used to treat cancer by removing the cancerous tumor and surrounding tissues during an operation. Reconstructive surgery is also used in cancer patients to restore normal function and correct physical changes caused by cancer-related treatments or surgeries.

Treatments

  • General Surgery
  • daVinci Robotic Surgery
  • Gynecologic Oncology Surgery
  • Reconstructive Surgery