Radiation Medicine

If you or your child has been diagnosed with cancer, you can be confident in the access you have to best treatments and technology. Through seamless coordination of top surgical, medical, neuro, urologic, gynecologic, and pediatric oncology doctors in New York, we offer leading-edge radiation therapies for both adults and children.   

What Is Radiation Medicine?

Radiation therapy is one of the most powerful options available to treat cancer. It uses high doses of radiation (high-powered X-rays) to precisely attack the cancer before it spreads further in your body. Radiation therapy can be used by itself or alongside other treatments, like surgery or chemotherapy, to: 

• Shrink tumors: Radiation can shrink tumors before you undergo a surgical treatment option. In some early-state cancers, it may be all the treatment you need to keep the cancer from coming back. 
• Destroy cancer cells: Radiation can destroy remaining cancer cells after surgery. 
• Alleviate cancer symptoms: Radiation therapy can ease your cancer symptoms and help improve overall quality of life. 

Who Should Have Radiation Medicine?

If radiation therapy is in line with your personal wishes for cancer treatment, our WMCHealth radiation oncology team can help determine if it’s right for you. Factors we consider include the type of cancer you have, the size of your tumor, whether the cancer is constricted to a small area (localized), or if it has spread to other parts of your body (metastasized). We also consider your age, current health, and health history to ensure the treatment plan is best for both your cancer and your treatment goals. 

Side Effects of Radiation Medicine

Our radiation oncologists work with you to plan a treatment schedule to increase healing time and reduce side effects. Even so, you may experience side effects specific to the area being treated.  Should side effects occur we can help actively manage and often minimize them.

Types of Radiation Medicine

The WMCHealth Department of Radiation Medicine provides radiation services that cover your unique needs. We provide long-standing, vetted radiation therapy such as external beam radiation, which includes:

• 3D Conformal Radiation Therapy
• Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
• Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS)
• Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
• Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
• Internal radiation therapy includes brachytherapy

Expert Treatments for Rare Conditions

We use techniques and methods for rare conditions, like brain tumors, that are most promising to improve your quality of life. Specialized treatments include:

• Gamma Tile 
• Hyperthermia 
• Radionuclide Therapy