Home | Radiation Oncology | What is Radiation Oncology?
What is Radiation Oncology?
Radiation oncology is a medical specialty that utilizes various forms of radiation to treat cancer. It is a unique blend of state-of-the-art technology and warm personal care by a multidisciplinary radiation therapy team.
Radiation is a local treatment that affects cancer cells only in the treated area. The treatment itself is painless and the radiation is used to damage cancer cells, stopping them from growing and dividing. Radiation can come from a high energy X-ray machine (external radiation) or from a small source of radioactive material placed close to or directly into the tumor (brachytherapy).
The radiation therapy team consists of a Radiation Oncologist (a physician that specializes in the use of radiation to treat cancer) who works closely with a medical physicist, dosimetrist, radiation therapist and oncology nurse.
At Shields Radiation Oncology Centers we strive to provide the best possible care for every patient. Our physicians are experienced in diagnosing and treating all types of cancer, with the latest technology and the most innovative, advanced therapies to increase the chances of a cure.
