At Minneapolis Radiation Oncology, we use high-energy X-rays to gradually kill cancer cells so they are unable to grow, multiply, and spread. This specialized therapy is referred to by a number of different names, including radiation therapy, X-ray therapy, radiotherapy, or irradiation.
Radiation therapy is a localized treatment, meaning it only affects the cells in the area of the body actually being treated. We make every effort to preserve as many healthy cells as possible.
MRO is actively involved in clinical trials and technology development for new cancer treatments. The diverse experience of our professional staff adds depth and breadth to our clinical knowledge, and enables us to be a leader in serving our community of patients, physicians, and hospitals.
Minneapolis Radiation Oncology is committed to providing the highest standard of care, using the most advanced radiation treatment technology. We provide multiple modalities of therapy, including both external and internal methods of treating cancer, and also other therapies for non-cancerous conditions.
External beam radiation therapy comes from a machine that aims radiation at your cancer. The machine is large and may be noisy. It does not touch you, but it can move around you sending radiation to your body from many directions.
This is a local treatment, meaning that the radiation treats a specific part of your body. For example, if you have lung cancer, you will have radiation only to your chest, not the rest of your body.
- Multi-Leaf Collimators
- 3-D Treatment Planning
- Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
- Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
- Vision RT
In Brachytherapy, a solid radiation source, such as seeds, ribbons, or capsules is placed in your body or near the cancer. Brachytherapy may be used to treat many types of cancer, including head and neck, breast, uterus, cervix, prostate, gallbladder, esophagus, eye, and lung cancers.
Most brachytherapy is put in place through a small, flexible tube called a catheter, or a larger device called an applicator. Your MRO oncologist will place the catheter or applicator into your body before you receive the treatment.
- Low Dose Rate Brachytherapy (LDR)
- Prostate Brachytherapy
- High Dose Rate Brachytherapy (HDR)
Stereotactic radiation therapy is a specialized form of external radiation treatment where very high doses of precise radiation are directed at small targets. Because of the high level of radiation, the number of individual treatments required is less than in typical external beam radiotherapy (usually between one and five sessions).
The areas that are typically treated with these techniques include small tumors in the brain, lung, liver, or spine. The term stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) typically refers to a single high-dose external radiation treatment directed at a small brain tumor.
- Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT)
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS)