Radiation Therapy

External beam radiation therapy uses a machine called a linear accelerator to deliver high-energy radiation from outside the body, aimed directly at the tumor. It is the most common form of radiation treatment. Sessions are short, typically lasting only 15 minutes, and are given on an outpatient basis over several weeks. Patients return home the same day. Advanced imaging and planning techniques allow the care team to target cancer cells precisely while limiting radiation to surrounding healthy tissue.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy, or SBRT, delivers very high doses of focused radiation to tumors in the body in five treatments or fewer. This approach uses advanced imaging and precise targeting to concentrate radiation on the tumor from multiple angles while sparing nearby healthy tissue. SBRT is commonly used to treat early-stage lung tumors, early-stage prostate cancer, and select metastatic lesions, depending on size and location. Because treatment is completed in just a few sessions, SBRT offers a convenient option with minimal disruption to daily life. 

Stereotactic radiosurgery is a highly precise form of radiation therapy used to treat conditions in the brain in five sessions or fewer — despite its name, no surgical incision is made. Using advanced imaging and pinpoint accuracy, SRS delivers a concentrated dose of radiation to a specific area of the brain while minimizing exposure to surrounding tissue. It is used to treat brain metastases as well as certain non-cancerous conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia, vestibular schwannoma, and meningiomas.

HyperArc™ is a specialized form of stereotactic radiosurgery designed to treat multiple brain tumors in a single session. For patients with several brain metastases, HyperArc™ offers an alternative to whole brain radiation therapy. By focusing radiation precisely on each individual tumor, it reduces exposure to healthy brain tissue, helps preserve memory and cognitive function, and lowers the risk of side effects. HyperArc™ may allow all brain lesions to be treated in as few sessions as possible, making it a more efficient and targeted option.

Brachytherapy is a type of radiation therapy that places a small radioactive source inside the body, directly at or near the tumor. This targeted approach delivers a high dose of radiation to cancer cells while reducing exposure to nearby healthy tissue. Depending on the type of cancer and the treatment plan, the radioactive source may be left in place temporarily or permanently. Brachytherapy is often completed in fewer sessions than traditional external beam radiation therapy.

High dose rate brachytherapy is a form of internal radiation therapy in which a radioactive source is temporarily placed inside or near the tumor to deliver a concentrated dose of radiation in a short period of time. The source may be placed within a natural body cavity — such as the uterus, cervix, or vagina — or directly into the tumor, depending on the type and location of the cancer. The source is removed after each treatment session. HDR brachytherapy is commonly used to treat certain gynecological cancers, including cervical and uterine cancers, and may also be used to treat small, superficial lesions on the skin. This approach allows for precise treatment while limiting radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.

Prostate seed implants are a form of low dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy in which tiny radioactive seeds are surgically placed directly into the prostate gland. The procedure is coordinated between a urologist and a radiation oncologist. Once in place, the seeds deliver a steady, low dose of radiation to the prostate over several weeks to months. In some cases, patients receiving prostate seed implants may also need a short course of external beam radiation therapy as part of their overall treatment plan.

Low dose radiation therapy is a non-invasive treatment option for patients with osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis. Unlike the higher doses used to treat cancer, this therapy uses a very small amount of radiation — delivered by the same type of machine — to help reduce inflammation and relieve pain in affected joints such as the knees, hips, hands, shoulders, and elbows. Treatment is typically completed in ten sessions or fewer over a short period of time, with minimal to no side effects. Low dose radiation therapy may be a good option for patients who have not found adequate relief from medications, physical therapy, or injections and who wish to avoid or delay joint replacement surgery. Loyola Medicine This approach has been used in Europe for decades and is now gaining popularity in the United States as a safe, well-tolerated treatment that can improve mobility and quality of life. Upstate Medical University

Systemic radiation therapy delivers radiation throughout the body using a radioactive substance that is swallowed or given through an IV. Once in the bloodstream, the substance is absorbed by cancer cells, where it releases targeted radiation. This approach allows treatment to reach cancer cells wherever they may be in the body while limiting exposure to most healthy tissues.

Radioligand therapy is a type of radiopharmaceutical treatment that delivers radiation directly to cancer cells while minimizing exposure to healthy tissue. It works by combining a radioactive molecule with a targeting substance, called a ligand, that seeks out and binds to specific markers on cancer cells. Once attached, the radioactive molecule delivers precise radiation to destroy the tumor. The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders offers the following radioligand therapies:

• Pluvicto® (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan) — A treatment for certain types of advanced prostate cancer. Pluvicto targets a protein found on prostate cancer cells called PSMA, delivering radiation directly to the tumor.
• Lutathera® (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate) — A treatment for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs). Lutathera binds to somatostatin receptors on neuroendocrine tumor cells, delivering targeted radiation to help control tumor growth.

Radiopharmaceutical therapy uses radioactive substances that are given by mouth or through an IV to treat cancer from within the body. Unlike radioligand therapies, which use a targeting ligand to bind to cancer cells, these treatments work by taking advantage of the body's own natural processes to concentrate radiation where it is needed most. The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders offers the following radiopharmaceutical therapies:

• Xofigo® (radium Ra 223 dichloride) — A treatment for advanced prostate cancer that has spread to the bones. Xofigo mimics calcium and is naturally absorbed into areas of active bone growth near metastatic sites, where it delivers targeted radiation to help slow disease progression.
• Radioactive Iodine (I-131) — A treatment primarily used for certain thyroid cancers. Because thyroid cells naturally absorb iodine, radioactive iodine concentrates in thyroid tissue and delivers targeted radiation to destroy remaining cancer cells, often after surgical removal of the thyroid gland.

SpaceOAR™ is a temporary, absorbable gel placed between the prostate and the rectum before radiation therapy begins. By creating extra space between these structures, the hydrogel helps reduce radiation exposure to the rectum and may lower the risk of bowel, urinary, and sexual side effects during treatment. The placement procedure is minimally invasive. The gel remains in place throughout the course of radiation therapy and is naturally absorbed by the body over time, requiring no additional procedure for removal.

VisionRT uses 3D camera technology to monitor a patient's body position in real time during radiation treatment. By continuously tracking the surface of the body with exceptional accuracy, VisionRT helps ensure radiation is delivered to the intended area while protecting nearby healthy tissue. This technology improves treatment precision, enhances patient safety, and may reduce the need for additional imaging during each session. It also offers the option to treat without the use of permanent skin tattoos that are traditionally used for patient positioning.