Radiation Oncology at Texas Oncology-Amarillo Cancer Center

Texas Oncology-Amarillo Cancer Center uses the most advanced treatment planning systems and radiation technology to deliver radiation to cancer cells, making it quicker, safer, and more precise than ever before. Radiation therapy damages or destroys cancer cells by preventing them from growing or dividing while minimizing adverse effects on nearby healthy organs and tissues.

Approximately 50 percent of all cancer patients undergo radiation therapy at some point during their treatment. It is commonly the primary treatment for cancers of the head and neck, lung, bladder, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and plays a role in the overall treatment for cancers of the breast, prostate, colon, cervix, uterus, gallbladder, eye, and esophagus, among others. Depending on the type of cancer, radiation therapy can be administered before, in conjunction with, or after other treatment methods, such as chemotherapy and surgery.

The Initial Consultation

Radiation oncology treatment begins with a consultation, where the patient meets with the physician and radiation therapy team. Every part of the patient’s treatment is planned, including determining the correct body position for treatment, taking imaging scans, making reference marks on the skin for the treatment positions, and virtual simulation of the treatment. The number of treatments and duration of each session depend on the type of treatment prescribed and the patient’s cancer type.

How Radiation Works

Radiation therapy works by damaging the DNA in cancer cells, thereby disabling the cancer cells from reproducing and growing. The cancer cells then die and the cancer shrinks. In some cases, radiation therapy is used for palliative care, that is, to relieve symptoms of the disease.

Radiation is usually administered in the form of high-energy beams that deposit the radiation dose where cancer cells are located. Unlike chemotherapy, radiation therapy is considered a local treatment. This means that cancer cells are only killed where the radiation is delivered, called the radiation field. If cancer exists outside the radiation field, those cancer cells are not impacted by the radiation.

Radiation therapy is delivered to patients externally or internally. External radiation therapy uses high-energy X-ray or electron beams delivered by a linear accelerator and aimed at specific points on the body. Internal radiation therapy involves the implantation of radioactive material directly into the body.