Radiation Oncology
The Department of Radiation Oncology at Kuang Tien General Hospital is closely tied to the Cancer Center, where our medical oncologists, surgeons and physicians from other specialties coordinate to offer patients specialized programs in cancer diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. We strive to provide the best possible cancer care by emphasizing on the importance of cancer prevention and control. Our Cancer Center is dedicated to the advancement of cancer treatment techniques through research and the promotion of prevention and awareness through community health education events. Kuang Tien General Hospital is the only hospital in Taichung County and the only regional hospital in Taiwan to be accredited as a Cancer Prevention Center by Taiwan’s Department of Health Bureau of Health Promotion. In March 2004, our hospital was given the highest accreditation of “Medical Care Quality Program in Cancer Care” by Taiwan’s Department of Health.
Radiation Oncology specialists offer advanced treatment options: high-energy X-rays, electron beams or radioactive isotopes to kill cancer cells without exceeding safe doses, protecting the normal tissue. At Kuang Tien General Hospital, radiation therapy is tailored to meet the needs of each patient. Our Radiation Oncology team members adhere to quality assurance procedures that ensure radiation treatments are appropriately prescribed and accurately delivered.
1. External Beam Radiotherapy With this type of therapy, an external beam of radiation is directed at a particular part of the body. This form of radiation is given on an outpatient basis for five to six days a week, over a period of five to seven weeks, which varies depending on each patient’s situation. At Kuang Tien General Hospital, external radiation treatments include:
A. Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy(3D-CRT) Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy is used to treat tumors that traditionally might have been considered too close to vital organs and structures for radiation therapy. It is a complex process that begins with the creation of individualized, 3D digital data sets of patient tumors and normal adjacent anatomy. Using these data sets, 3D computer images are generated to develop complex plans to deliver highly focused radiation while avoiding normal adjacent tissue. Radiation therapy is delivered by medical linear accelerators that releases x-rays focused to the area of interest. This technique is painless, reduces side effects and increases the rate of tumor control.
B. Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy(IMRT) Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy involves the use of hundreds of small radiation beams in varying intensities to produce dosage distributions that are more precise than those possible with 3D-CRT. These rays are aimed at the tumor from many angles. During treatment, the radiation intensity of each beam is controlled, and the beam shape changes hundreds of times during each treatment. This therapy allows more precise radiation distribution, decreases radiation to normal sensitive surrounding tissue, increases the chance of destroying cancer cells, and decreases the chance of harming normal cells.
C. Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) combines imaging and treatment capabilities on a single machine. Kuang Tien General Hospital uses the Elekta Synergy, which is the world’s first linear accelerator to feature integrated 3D volume imaging functionality. It allows an image of the tumor site with CT-like quality to be acquired and reconstructed immediately before treatment. This cutting-edge technology enables visualization of soft tissue detail in any area of the body, which allows for determination of the target’s size, shape and location in relation to critical structures. This data can then be compared with images taken during simulation, and necessary adjustments are made to the patient's position and/or radiation beams. This delivers target radiation more precisely at the tumor and avoids healthy surrounding tissue.
2. Brachytherapy There are two types of Brachytherapy: Intracavitary Brachytherapy may include placing radioactive sources inside a body cavity such as the vagina, and Interstitial Brachytherapy is the implantation of ionizing radiation inside cancerous tissues and positioned in a matter that will attack the cancer most efficiently. This allows a higher than normal dose of radiation placed in or adjacent to the tumor and reduces the risk of damage to healthy tissue and increases the likelihood of destroying the tumor. Some of the diseases now treated with Brachytherapy include prostate cancer, cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, and coronary artery disease. Brachytherapy has been proven to be very effective and safe, providing a good alternative to surgical removal of the prostate, breast, and cervix, while reducing the risk of certain long-term side effects. Some of the Brachytherapy can be used to treat many cancers. Radiation oncologists commonly use it in the treatment of cervical, endometrial, prostate and bile dust cancers. |