Cancers We Treat

Patients with breast cancer may undergo surgery upfront, either a lumpectomy (removing the tumor while conserving the breast) or a mastectomy (removal of the breast). Lymph nodes are typically assessed with a sentinel node biopsy.

Radiation therapy is commonly paired with lumpectomy to support breast conservation. Traditionally, whole-breast radiation is delivered over 3-4 weeks; however, shorter treatment courses may be appropriate for certain patients. Treatments are outpatient and can typically be completed in 15–30 minutes.

We also offer accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI), a convenient one-week course using IMRT. This approach allows precise delivery of radiation to the tumor site while minimizing exposure to surrounding tissues.

Patients with early-stage (I or II) lung cancer may be treated curatively with surgery (lobectomy) or with SBRT (stereotactic body radiation therapy). Our center has extensive experience with SBRT, a non-invasive, highly precise treatment delivered in a few 30-minute outpatient sessions over approximately two weeks. Patients can typically maintain normal activities and drive themselves to and from appointments.

For stage III lung cancer, chemotherapy and radiation are often combined, sometimes targeting lymph nodes over a 5–6 week period, delivered sequentially or concurrently with chemotherapy. Advanced cases may also benefit from immunotherapy.

Radiation therapy has long been the cornerstone of curative treatment for most head and neck cancers. Chemotherapy is frequently used as a sensitizer to enhance radiation effectiveness.

Physicians at ROA have published multiple studies demonstrating outcomes at PPMH in managing cancers of the oropharynx, larynx, and nasopharynx. In some cases, surgery may be recommended before radiation, based on individual evaluation by your treating physician.

While chemotherapy and surgery are central to managing gastrointestinal cancers, radiation therapy is often used as an adjunct, delivered before or after surgery. Radiation is most commonly applied for cancers of the anal canal, rectum, and esophagus, with selective use in pancreatic, gastric, and colon cancers.

Radiation, often combined with chemotherapy, is a primary treatment for cervical cancer. For endometrial cancer, radiation is sometimes used after surgery (removal of the uterus, ovaries, and lymph nodes) to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Brachytherapy (implanting radioactive sources) allows delivery of high-dose radiation directly to the tumor while minimizing exposure to surrounding tissue. Since 2016, we have largely transitioned from inpatient low-dose-rate (LDR) implants to outpatient high-dose-rate (HDR) implants using the Elekta Flexitron system, allowing patients to spend more time at home between treatments.

Learn more about Elekta Flexitron HDR delivery.

Chemotherapy remains the primary treatment for lymphoma, leukemia, and myeloma. Radiation may be used for consolidation or definitive management in select cases, such as low-grade lymphomas (e.g., Follicular or MALT) or solitary plasmacytoma.

Superficial radiation therapy can serve as a definitive treatment for all types of skin cancers and is an alternative to Mohs surgery or other invasive procedures. Radiation successfully controls approximately 90% of treated skin cancers and is particularly advantageous for lesions on the face or other areas where surgery might cause disfigurement or scarring.

Radiation therapy, often combined with surgery, is used to manage brain tumors. Treatment approaches include ablative radiotherapy using technologies such as TomoTherapy and IMRT to precisely target tumors while minimizing exposure to surrounding brain tissue.