Radiation therapy specialists in Augusta, Georgia
As part of our cancer care services, Doctors Hospital of Augusta provides leading-edge radiation treatment at the Radiation Oncology Center. Backed by an accreditation in radiation oncology by the American College of Radiology (ACR), our radiation therapy services are top-quality and close to home in the CSRA.
Radiation therapy is a critical tool in the fight against cancer. Our patients have many options when it comes to radiation therapy, including external beam and internal approaches.
To learn more about our radiation oncology program, please call us at (706) 651-6700.
Recognition
Doctors Hospital of Augusta is accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR) for our radiation oncology services. This acknowledges our staff for meeting and following high-quality medical standards in radiation therapy and our commitment to patient safety.
Radiation therapy for cancer treatment
Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that destroys malignant (cancerous) cells using high doses of radiation. Radiation dosages are highly targeted to kill cancer cells while sparing normal, healthy tissue and organs near the treatment site. Radiation therapy can be used as the sole treatment for cancer or in combination with other treatment options, such as surgery.
Radiation therapies we offer
As cancer research continues to advance, so do radiation technologies and treatments. There are now many options for radiation treatment. Treatment for every patient will be made based on individual factors, including the type of cancer. Radiation therapies we offer include:
- Brachytherapy: Also called high dose radiation (HDR) or internal radiotherapy, this therapy is used by placing radioactive material at the site or next to the site of a tumor or cancerous cells.
- Brachytherapy after breast surgery: This is a targeted treatment for patients with breast cancer following a lumpectomy. It allows patients to receive radiation at the internal source over a period of five days compared to traditional treatment five days a week for six weeks.
- External beam radiation: High-energy radiation beams are delivered via a linear accelerator (machine that customizes and delivers targeted radiation) to penetrate tissue from outside the body and destroy cancer cells.
- Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT): A specialized type of IMRT, this therapy uses continuous computer imaging guidance to monitor a patient's position and adjust radiation beams so they remain precisely targeted on the tumor. It is often coordinated with a patient's breathing pattern to account for movement during treatment. This method reduces patient stress and is particularly useful in lung cancer treatment.
- Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT): A computer-controlled, high-precision form of radiation that conforms to the shape of a tumor. Radiation doses are varied so that higher doses are delivered to the tumor site while exposure is limited to surrounding normal tissue.
- Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS): This therapy uses an advanced radiation machine that delivers single, high doses of radiation in a single session. It is referred to as radiosurgery due to its extreme precision. However, it is painless and no incision is involved.
- Stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT): Very similar to SRS, this therapy is delivered over the course of several treatments. The decision between SRS and SRT will be made based on factors such as the size, location and type of tumor.
Radiation oncology team
The specialists at the Radiation Oncology Center take a multidisciplinary approach to deciding the best radiation treatment option for every patient. Our team includes:
- Board-certified radiation oncologists
- Dosimetrists
- Physicists
- Radiation therapists
Getting to the Radiation Oncology Center
The Radiation Oncology Center is located on our hospital's main campus inside Medical Office Building II. The department operates out of suite 103 and is open from 7:30am to 4:30pm.
Our center is easily accessible at the intersection of Bobby Jones Expressway and I-20. Convenient parking is available right outside the front entrance.
