More than half of all cancer patients undergo radiation therapy. It uses high-energy particles or waves, such as X-rays or gamma rays, to destroy or damage cancer cells. Physicians often use radiation therapy before surgery to shrink a tumor or after surgery to prevent any remaining cancer cells from growing.
At Saint Raphael’s, our physicians are pioneering the CyberKnife, a revolutionary form of radiosurgery that destroys even inoperable tumors anywhere in the body with pinpoint accuracy. These powerful, precise radiation beams are used to treat tumors of the brain, spine, neck, lung, liver, prostate and pancreas, among others.
The Father Michael J. McGivney Center for Cancer Care offers other technologically advanced radiation equipment, including sophisticated, high-energy linear accelerators that target cancerous areas while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. The center is participating in a series of leading-edge clinical trials to identify how new combinations of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may increase survival.