There are many different types of cancer, but not all types can be treated with the same technique. Surgery or chemotherapy are ideal for treating certain malignancies while radiation therapy is more effective for others. Often times, combined modality treatments utilizing all three approaches are most effective. Therefore, every case is unique and approached in that manner.
Blue Ridge Radiation Oncology is dedicated to providing personalized attention to our patients, tailoring every treatment plan to individual needs. We use radiation therapy to treat cancer, but compassion and caring to heal.
Why Choose Radiation Therapy?
Radiation therapy is a noninvasive procedure that uses radiation instead of traditional surgery to treat cancerous tumors. Unlike surgery, radiation therapy does not remove the tumor. Instead, radiation therapy damages the DNA of a tumor, preventing cells from being able to reproduce, with the ultimate goals of killing tumor cells while sparing nearby healthy tissue. In some cases, radiation therapy is used to relieve pain and discomfort caused by cancer.
Radiation therapy is performed on an outpatient basis and avoids many of the complications associated with surgery such as hemorrhage and infection. Radiation therapy can be accurate within 1 – 2 millimeters. Several techniques have been developed to achieve these goals.
