Radiation Therapy Center at Riverwest is a state-of-the-art radiation therapy treatment facility with a team of caring specialists focused on supporting and guiding cancer patients through their cancer journey. Recent equipment upgrades; a new Philips Big Bore CT scanner and Varian TrueBeam™ linear accelerator; enhance our ability to provide the finest care using cutting edge technology.

Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Different from chemotherapy, which often exposes all of the body to cancer-fighting drugs, radiation therapy is usually local and limited to the part of the body needing treatment. It is commonly used to:

• cure or shrink cancer at various stages
• stop cancer from recurring elsewhere in the body
• treat symptoms caused by advanced cancer
• treat cancer that has returned

More than half of cancer patients undergo radiation therapy. Sometimes, it is the only cancer treatment required.

External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT)

Radiation Therapy Center at Riverwest uses external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), a local treatment that delivers beams of high-energy x-rays from outside the body into a tumor. This procedure helps protect normal cells and tissue surrounding the targeted area. Our advanced Varian TrueBeam™ linear accelerator ensures superior x-ray speed and accuracy.

Our types of EBRT include:

3D Conformal Radiation Therapy

3D conformal radiation therapy uses imaging to pinpoint the treatment area. Custom shaping equipment in our linear accelerator then forms radiation beams around the tumor by delivering them from different directions. This precise shaping allows us to use higher doses of radiation without affecting nearby tissue.

Respiratory Gating System

Normal breathing in patients can cause tumors to move, especially in the chest and abdomen. With respiratory gating, we can monitor tumor movement during breathing to deliver a precise radiation beam to target areas only when they are in the right place. This helps protect healthy surrounding tissues from the radiation.

Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)

IGRT uses x-ray images before and during a radiation therapy session for exact direction of the beam. Our system captures, stores and references these images to detect changes in a tumor’s size and location, which allows us to adjust the beam if needed.

Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)

IMRT applies tiny radiation beam–shaping devices called multileaf collimators (MLCs) that can move throughout the radiation session to adjust the beam’s intensity. As with 3D conformal therapy, the beams are aimed at the tumor from several directions. Their strength can be changed to give higher radiation doses to parts of the tumor.

Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT)

VMAT radiation therapy is an advanced form of IMRT. Using the same mechanisms as IMRT, it can greatly reduce treatment time as compared to a more conventional therapy. Your physician and our radiation planning team will determine if VMAT is the appropriate form of treatment for your cancer.

Stereotactic Body Radiation (SBRT)

SBRT uses a specially designed coordinate system with precise, limited fields for local treatment of small, isolated tumors. SBRT can deliver a single high dose of radiation or several divided doses.

Radiation Therapy Center at Riverwest

At Riverwest, we develop a radiation therapy plan for efficiently fighting your cancer in a safe and comfortable setting. Your care team includes:

We also offer a semi-private waiting area for family and friends as well as access to a beautiful outdoor healing garden for patients.

Contact us at (630) 264-8580 to speak with one of our professionals about radiation therapy or schedule a consultation.

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