More than fifty percent of all cancer patients will require radiation therapy during their treatment. Central Maine Healthcare offers some of the most advanced technology, including image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), and intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). These techniques deliver highly powerful and precise radiation to the tumor, while preserving the healthy tissue. That precise targeting means fewer treatments are usually necessary and you’ll experience fewer side effects.
What is Radiation Therapy?
Radiation Therapy uses high energy beams to destroy or shrink tumors, sometimes before or after cancer surgery, and to help alleviate symptoms. We offer the latest, safest and most effective radiation therapies to treat a wide range of cancers. In fact, Central Maine Medical Center is certified by the American College of Radiology (ACR) as providing the highest quality patient safety and care.
Our board-certified radiation oncologists and radiation therapists will work closely with your cancer care team and you to carefully plan and monitor each treatment to maximize success. We’ll also be right by your side through every phase of treatment to help you feel well and without major changes to your normal routine.
Targeting Tumors with Extreme Precision
Central Maine Healthcare radiologists have some of the most sophisticated technology at their disposal. This technology allows your radiologist to deliver radiation in exactly the right place. This allows for a higher, more effective dosage amount without additional risk of side effects, including damage to normal, surrounding tissues.
Other cutting-edge therapies we offer include:
- Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT): Allows us to locate and track tumors at the time of treatment to deliver more precise radiation.
- Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT): Allows radiation beams of various strengths and shape to be delivered from several angles. Exact locations of the tumor and healthy structures are used by a computer to determine the intensity of each individual radiation beam, sparing as much healthy tissue as possible.
- HDR Brachytherapy: Delivers treatment through radioactive material (called “seeds”) implanted near the tumor site, providing targeted doses of radiation to the tumor.
- Stereotactic radiotherapy (SBRT): Often used to treat brain cancer, this technique uses carefully programmed coordinates to deliver narrowly focused, high-dose radiation beams to a solid tumor.
- 3D Conformal Radiation Therapy (3DCRT): Uses computer simulation of the tumor and surrounding areas to shape the radiation beam exactly to the tumor.
- Mammosite® Radiation Therapy: A simpler, less invasive method of delivering breast brachytherapy. The device delivers radiation directly to the area where a breast tumor has been surgically removed via lumpectomy, the site where tumors are most likely to recur.
- RapidArc: A newer form of IMRT that can deliver treatments in less than 10 minutes. Since a patient spends less time holding still, it’s easier to avoid movements that can affect the accuracy of the treatment.
Support through Treatment and Beyond
Throughout your journey, we offer a full range of support services to help deal with any and all treatment challenges. That includes one-on-one counseling with a a registered dietitian to ensure good nutrition and manage any changes in appetite. You also have access to an oncology social worker for any emotional concerns, as well as a chaplain for spiritual care, ongoing support groups and much more.
