Advanced, precision-focused radiation treatment
Radiation therapy is a form of cancer treatment that uses intense energy beams, such as X-rays or proton radiation, to eliminate cancer cells. Advanced techniques ensure precision, pointing the beams directly at the cancer while safeguarding organs and healthy tissues from excessive radiation.
Our radiation oncologists deliver expert care for common and complex forms of cancer, including cancers that recur. We tailor our treatment approach according to several factors, such as the type, location and severity of the cancer, to ensure the best possible outcome.
The availability of radiation therapy treatments and technologies, such as TrueBeam® radiotherapy system and HyperArc® radiosurgery system, may vary according to the location of care.
Radiation therapy treatment options
MultiCare offers a range of radiation therapies, including:
3D and 4D radiation therapy. This form of treatment uses a computer to create a 3D or 4D image of the tumor to allow physicians to locate and direct high amounts of radiation to a particular area, while minimizing radiation exposure to healthy tissue.
Types of 3D and 4D radiation may include:
- Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT)
- Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
- 3D conformal therapy
- Stereotactic radiosurgery
- Stereotactic body radiation therapy
Brachytherapy. Also referred to as internal radiation, brachytherapy uses a radioactive implant inserted near or in the tumor. The radiation released from the implant only travels a short distance, minimizing radiation exposure to healthy tissue. The implants are inserted into the body using a catheter.
Types of brachytherapy may include:
- High-dose-rate brachytherapy
- Prostate implants
- Gynecologic implants
- Skin brachytherapy
Hyperthermia. While not a type of radiation therapy, hyperthermia is a treatment where tissue is exposed to high temperatures, up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit. It may be used in conjunction with radiation therapy to help make cancer cells more sensitive to radiation. Hyperthermia can also enhance the effect of certain cancer drugs.
Excellence in radiation therapy
You can access radiation therapy treatment at multiple locations across the Pacific Northwest. MultiCare Regional Cancer Center, located in the South Puget Sound, is nationally recognized through the American Society for Radiation Oncology’s Accreditation Program for Excellence (APEx®).
Other locations where you can receive radiation therapy from a highly coordinated, multidisciplinary team include MultiCare Deaconess Cancer Center in Spokane, MultiCare Capital Medical Center in Olympia and MultiCare Yakima Memorial in Yakima.