Radiation Oncology
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Half of all people with cancer are treated with radiation at some time during the course of their illness. In all, over 17,000 radiation treatments take place each year at MeritCare.
The Radiation Oncology Department at MeritCare Roger Maris Cancer Center is dedicated to providing high quality radiation treatments to patients diagnosed with cancer. Radiation therapy—the use of x-rays to destroy cancer cells' ability to reproduce—is a safe and effective treatment for patients of all ages and may be used to treat cancer or to relieve pain or other symptoms. We're accredited by the American College of Radiology and have board-certified radiation oncologists—physicians who specialize in the use of radiation to treat cancer and other illnesses—on staff.
Treatment Team
Our radiation oncologists coordinate the care of each cancer patient. They work directly with a team of professionals–nurses, radiation physicists, dosimetrists, radiation therapists and others who assist in treatment planning and delivery.
Treatment Options
Our Radiation Oncology Department provides a full range of advanced radiation therapy systems for both children and adults. Radiation therapy can be administered in one of two ways: externally, through the use of high-energy x-rays or electron beams; or internally, through a process called brachytherapy in which a radioactive source (wires, seeds or rods) is surgically implanted as close to the tumor as possible.
External Radiation Treatment Process
After learning about which radiation therapy option is best for you, learn about the process used for establishing and administering the treatment.