Targeted Radiation Therapy: Innovative & Non-invasive November 6, 2019 Anyone facing a cancer diagnosis naturally begins to focus on how long their treatment will be and the possible physical side effects. With advancements in medicine, more non-invasive and highly successful treatment options are available. Samaritan Cancer Program commonly uses stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), a high-dose targeted radiation therapy, to treat early stage lung cancer and select cases of metastatic cancer to the brain. This treatment option is non-invasive and extremely precise — delivering intense doses of radiation to cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. It’s fairly convenient for patients — sometimes delivered in five sessions over the course of two weeks, compared to conventional radiation therapy, which can be five to eight weeks. Patients may also benefit from fewer short-term effects. Success rates are usually high at the treated cancer site using this technology, with overall treatment outcomes monitored three to six months afterward. At that time, it’s determined if other treatment options may be needed, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or a combination of these. Talk with your oncology team to learn more about SBRT or to see if you’re a candidate for this type of treatment. Get more information at samhealth.org/ClinicalTrials.
