What Is Radiation Therapy?

Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, is the precise use of high-energy rays to treat cancer. It is highly effective in destroying the cancer cell’s ability to reproduce, allowing the body to naturally rid itself of these dead or damaged cells.

At Radiotherapy Centers of Kentuckiana, patients receive doses of external beam radiation delivered by machines from outside the body. We use the most advanced equipment and therapies available, allowing for ultra-accurate delivery of larger radiation doses resulting in minimal damage to surrounding organs and tissues.

Convenience

We work to accommodate your schedule so you can continue with your daily activities. Our offices are conveniently located in Louisville and Jeffersonville.

Targeted precision

Our advanced technology allows us to target tumors precisely, delivering efficient and accurate treatment while protecting vital organs and surrounding tissue, thereby reducing the number of side effects.

Comfort and care

A respiratory monitoring system allows patients to breathe naturally and comfortably during treatment while ensuring accurate targeting of tumors. Through a two-way communication system, a clinician can stay in constant contact with the patient for the entirety of their treatment.

Customized treatment

Our physician will customize a personalized treatment plan for each patient. We provide a range of treatment options for various types of cancer.

Treatment Methods

These breakthrough technologies permit our radiation oncology team to treat more challenging types of cancer and develop individualized treatment plans for patients.

Before treatment begins, we use CT simulation to develop a 3-D model of your tumor and the area of your body in which it is located. This gives us an extremely accurate picture of your tumor so you get the best outcomes from radiation therapy. Learn more about CT simulation.

All of our external beam radiotherapy treatments are done using a linear accelerator. This is a device that delivers a beam of high-energy X-rays or electrons. The beam is directed and shaped to maximize damage to the tumor while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues. Other advantages of using a linear accelerator (sometimes known as a LINAC) include its suitability for tumors in areas where vital organs are sensitive to radiation and the ability to make adjustments to the beam to suit the size and shape of the tumor. Radiotherapy with a linear accelerator also reduces the time needed for a radiation therapy regimen.

Types of radiation therapy we offer

At Radiotherapy Centers of Kentuckiana, we offer three types of external beam radiation therapy (3D-CRT, IMRT, and SBRT) supported by precision imaging technology (IGRT). We also provide radiopharmaceutical therapy with Xofigo (radium 223) and Pluvicto (lutetium 177).

• 3D conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) uses computers and detailed CT and/or MRI scans to get a very accurate image of the tumor. The treatment team then shapes the radiation beam to match the size and shape of the tumor. Learn more about 3D conformal radiation therapy.
• Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is a form of radiation therapy that, unlike many radiotherapy treatments, uses multiple smaller beams. This allows your treatment team to administer a higher dose of radiation to the tumor itself while minimizing harm to nearby tissues. Learn more about IMRT.
• Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), or stereotactic body radiotherapy, uses a higher dose of radiation than other forms of radiotherapy, resulting in a much shorter course of treatment than other modalities. Rather than taking several weeks, stereotactic body radiation therapy treatment is given in one to five sessions. Learn more about stereotactic body radiation therapy.
• Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) uses medical imaging such as CT scans to locate and treat tumors in combination with either 3D-CRT or intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). With IGRT, your treatment team will take images of your tumor each day of your treatment to ensure precision and effectiveness. Learn more about IGRT.
• Radiopharmaceutical therapy targets cancer cells with a radioactive drug that is either injected, given orally, or placed in a body cavity. These radiopharmaceuticals generally consist of a radioactive atom and molecules that seek out cancer cells. Learn more about radiopharmaceutical therapy.

What to Expect with Radiation Therapy

We’re here to support you each step of the way. Here’s what your radiation therapy treatment journey at RCK will look like.

Cancers We Treat

Our physicians treat a wide variety of cancers. You can view the full list here, or you can click below to learn about the cancers we most commonly treat.