Types of radiation therapy

Novalis shaped beam robotic treatment precisely pinpoints and treats cancerous tumors and lesions in a variety of areas of the body, including the brain. Novalis® advanced tumor treatment uses beams shaped to match the exact contour of the cancerous tumor or lesion.

High dose rate (HDR) radiation therapy is a treatment option for patients with certain gynecological cancers. HDR can be used with MammoSite® radiation therapy as part of a breast cancer research study at Park Nicollet.

MammoSite is the most widely used method of partial breast irradiation. Radiation is delivered from inside the breast, directly to the tissue where cancer is most likely to recur.

Brilliance CT scanner offers 16-slice, detailed imaging for exact treatment planning. Its large opening and quick, tumor-locating software provides a more comfortable environment than other CT scanners.

Daily radiation treatments treat the majority of cancer patients with a linear accelerator (radiation therapy machine) for about five to eight weeks.

Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy is used if a tumor is located in a very sensitive part of the brain. The treatments, using Novalis, are delivered in small daily doses of radiation, for several weeks.

Prostate brachytherapy treats prostate cancer with radioactive seeds that are guided carefully through the prostate without open surgery, using ultrasound images and computers.

Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is most commonly used with prostate, head, neck and brain cancers. IMRT allows patients to be treated with high doses of radiation therapy while sparing the maximum amount of healthy tissue, thereby decreasing possible side effects.