Radiation Oncology: A team approach to cancer care

When preparing for radiation oncology treatment, you want to be confident that you have an experienced team on your side that is ready and able to provide complete care.

At Lancaster General Cancer Center, we treat people with cancer and relieve their symptoms using state-of-the-art technology and a knowledgeable, experienced medical team and support staff that provide all of the services and care to lead you down the road to recovery.

“We take a comprehensive approach to treating all types of cancer,” says Jeffrey Eshleman, MD, radiation oncologist at the Cancer Center. “We are a large center with a well-trained and caring staff, and extensive resources available to patients.”

Radiation oncologist Kishor Singapuri, MD, works with radiation therapists Beth Sipe and Morgan Schell during radiation treatment for patients.

Treating the cancer

Radiation therapy treats cancerous tumors using high-energy x-rays, electrons and other types of radiation. It may be offered by itself, given before or after surgery, or combined with chemotherapy.

It can be delivered from machines outside the body (known as external beam), or as brachytherapy, where radioactive materials in seeds or applicators are placed at the site of the tumor.

 “We offer external beam radiation therapy, Gamma Knife® radiosurgery, high dose rate and low dose rate brachytherapy,” Dr. Eshleman says. He adds that having an on-site 16-slice CT Scanner allows patients to have their scans performed in the same location as their treatment.

By Your Side.

Debra Duh Before a patient undergoes radiation oncology treatment, Debrah Duh, a dosimetrist at the Cancer Center, works with the doctor to create the radiation treatment plan that will be used. She makes sure each patient receives an optimal dose of radiation for treatment without damaging normal body structures.   Debra first explains the process to alleviate any anxiety the patient may have. She makes key adjustments before each treatment so the dose and treatment area is optimal and to minimize side effects.   Debra’s expertise and commitment to the cancer team over the past 3 years is another example of how Lancaster General is by your side.

From initial consultation through follow-up care, patients have an experienced Cancer Center team guiding them through each step of their treatment and recovery. This team includes:

• Radiation oncologists – a doctor specializing in the use of radiation to treat cancer
• Radiation therapy nurses – nurses specially trained in the care of patients receiving radiation therapy
• Dosimetrists – create treatment plans based upon a doctor’s prescription for each patient
• Physicists – develop treatment plans and assist the physicians with special procedures, and assure that the equipment is operating according to specification
• Radiation therapists – technicians who deliver the radiation treatment to patients
• Registered dietitian – helps create a diet formulated to a patient’s specific needs to maintain health and weight during treatment and recovery

Delivering quality care

Treatment begins when the doctor takes a detailed look at the cancer using various imaging modalities in addition to CT scans to determine the precise area for treatment.

From there, doctors determine what treatment a patient will need, then works with his team to prepare the treatment plan.

The on-site dosimetrists use the doctor’s prescription to calculate a treatment plan that will deliver the optimal dose of radiation for the patient.

“The dosimetrist works closely with the physician to develop the best treatment plan to deliver the prescribed dose to the tumor while minimizing the radiation to surrounding organs and tissue,” says Melanie McCurdy, Team Leader, Cancer Center.

The Cancer Center also has the distinction of always having a physicist on-site, assuring patients that the equipment is monitored and calibrated to provide the most effective treatment possible. 

Specialists like Liz Korman, Registered Dietitian, are also an important part of the cancer care team. “I work to keep patients as nutritionally sound as possible during their treatment and afterward,” Liz says.

“Ten years ago, we would see patients losing a significant amount of weight during their treatments,” she says. “Today we meet frequently with patients to develop a nutrition plan to minimize the impact of treatment side-effects, maintain nutritional health and promote recovery.”

As a result, she says fewer patients need to take a break from treatment because of their nutritional status and are able to complete their treatments on time.

Liz Korman, registered dietitian, consults with Charles Trumbo following his cancer treatment to create a diet that helps him maintain his health during recovery.

“My experience here has been excellent,” says Charles Trumbo, who is recovering from cancer treatment at the Cancer Center. “The coordination between the different departments was great, and people couldn’t have been more pleasant.”

While he was able to receive all of his care during treatment at the Cancer Center, he says it never felt like a large impersonal place. “They really made me feel like an individual person, and that my interests were their interests.”

Lancaster General offers a wide range of wellness and therapy services that can help patients with recovery. Speech therapists are available to help patients recovering from throat cancer. We also offer wellness classes, support groups and programs that encourage healthy lifestyles.

“Everything that a patient needs is right here, on site,” Dr. Eshleman says. “We offer patients the most comprehensive approach to cancer care.”

For more information related to this topic:

 

• Cancer Care at Lancaster General
• Health Library: Radiation Therapy
• Health Library: Cancer Treatment Overview

 

 

 

Return to the Generally Speaking
Spring 2007 Main Page