Radiation Oncology

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The Radiation Oncology Program at the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Hamilton is accredited by the American College of Radiology and offers a full range of radiotherapy modalities, state-of-the-art imaging technology, advanced protocols, and individualized treatment planning. Utilizing a state-of-the-art linear accelerator, Varian Truebeam, and a flat-bed PET-CT simulator, Siemens Biograph mCT, a customized computer treatment plan is created for each patient.

RWJUH Hamilton's cancer center brings patients leading technologies, the expertise of Rutgers Cancer Institute physicians and a staff who puts you at the center of their care.

CONSULTATION

During an initial consultation, the radiation oncologist will thoroughly review your medical history and current medical conditions, imaging such as CT, PET/CT and MRI scans, and lab results.

After discussing your treatment goals, an individualized treatment plan is developed. Your physician will consider the size of the tumor and its location in the body as well as prior cancer and treatment history. Since each cancer type requires a different approach, your treatment plan will be based on your unique needs and treatment goals. Radiation treatments may be included in your individualized treatment plan before or after surgery, in combination with other treatments (e.g., chemotherapy infusion), or as palliative care treatment for chronic pain.

TREATMENT

Radiation oncologists may use image guidance before and during radiation treatment to deliver maximum radiation doses to tumors, with less impact on healthy tissues and organs. Our precise radiation technologies focus radiation directly on tumors to help minimize the risk of side effects commonly associated with standard radiation treatment.

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital offers a full range of cancer treatments such as bone marrow transplants, cranial and extracranial radiosurgery, high-dose-rate and low-dose-rate brachytherapy, total body irradiation, and total skin electron beam therapy. Thanks to our partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, RWJUH also offers many patients access to exciting new treatments that are not available at most other hospitals in New Jersey.

RWJUH offers a wide range of the most modern, effective radiation technologies at our campuses in New Brunswick and Hamilton including:

• External beam radiotherapy
• Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
• RapidArc radiotherapy (VMAT)
• Image guided radiation therapy (IGRT)
• 3D conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT)
• Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) breast radiation therapy
• Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
• Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS)
• Gamma Knife
• Proton Therapy
• Low dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy
• High dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy
• Total body irradiation (TBI)
• Total skin electron beam therapy (TSEBT)

Depending on your individual needs, we may combine radiation with other innovative treatments, like chemotherapy, hormone therapy and immunotherapy, to fight against the growth of new cancer cells. As you undergo radiation treatment, other members of your care team will work with you to reduce any side effects and help improve your quality of life.

Your Radiation Oncology Team

A team of highly skilled professionals work together to provide patients with individualized treatment plans. Throughout your care, the radiation oncology team will take time to answer your questions so you can feel comfortable with your treatment. The team includes:

• Radiation Oncologist: A board certified physician who specializes in radiation oncology, your radiation oncologist will oversee your care as well as develop and prescribe your treatment plan.
• Registered Nurse: Playing a key role in your treatment plan, the radiation oncology nurse will work collaboratively with the radiation oncologist by providing you with support during and after your treatment. Your nurse will focus on side-effect management and patient education, in addition to providing you and your family with emotional support.
• Radiation Therapist: Following the physician's prescription, the radiation therapist administers the radiation treatment while maintaining and recording treatments administered.
• Dosimetrist: Working closely with the radiation oncologist, the dosimetrist helps develop your treatment plan and calculate the treatment dose. This ensures the tumor receives the highest dose of radiation possible, while sparing as much normal tissue as possible.
• Physicist: Responsible for maintaining the treatment machines, the physicist works closely with the physician and dosimetrist to develop your treatment plan.