Radiation Therapy

Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, NJ offers both state-of-the-art radiation therapy capabilities and the versatility to provide each patient with an individualized, effective treatment plan. In part, our leadership in the field of radiation oncology may be attributed to our technological resources.

Combined with the expertise of our medical and support staff, our services and equipment make us one of the most advanced radiation therapy programs in the country.

How Do You Define Radiation Therapy?

We define radiation therapy as a type of cancer treatment that uses beams of intense energy to destroy cancer cells. Radiation therapy most often gets its power from x-rays, but the power may also come from protons or other types of energy. Radiation therapy is one of the most common treatments for cancer, either by itself or in combination with other forms of cancer therapy.

Types of Radiation Therapy

There are many different types of radiation therapy.

At Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, NJ, our radiation therapy program includes:

  • Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) - SBRT only requires one to five treatments and it typically treats early-stage lung cancer, oligometastatic disease, pancreatic cancer and liver cancer. This treatment is completed using our CyberKnife® or Elekta Infinity. Using a 4D simulator to define tumor movement during the breathing cycle allows us to precisely deliver high-dose radiation to small, well defined tumors outside the brain. The radiation oncologist determines the appropriate use for SBRT taking into consideration the cancer type and location.
  • CyberKnife® - A safe, noninvasive alternative to surgery for the treatment of both cancerous and non-cancerous tumors anywhere in the body, including the prostate, lung, brain, spine, liver, pancreas and kidney. The treatment – which uses a combination of image guidance and robotics – tracks tumors in real time and precisely delivers radiation to the tumor, sparing surrounding healthy tissue.
  • Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) - A newer form of radiation treatment using a high-dose, tightly focused radiation beam localized to the brain for both benign and malignant tumors. This is performed in only one session. SRS is used to treat trigeminal neuralgia, acoustic neuroma, arteriovenous malformations and recurrent gliomas. This treatment is completed using our CyberKnife® or Elekta Infinity.
  • Brachytherapy - This is a form of radiation therapy through which a radioactive source is placed directly into and next to a cancer, emitting radiation to a very precise target. Brachytherapy is most commonly used to treat prostate cancer, gynecological and breast cancer, esophageal cancer, bile duct cancer, lung cancer and soft tissue sarcoma.
  • Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) - This procedure uses a state-of-the-art beam shaping device to perfect match the cancer area while avoiding healthy organs and tissues. IMRT is used to treat tumors in areas that in close proximity to critical structures, such as head and neck cancers, brain tumors and prostate cancer.
  • Prone Positioning for Breast Cancer Treatment - This therapy for breast cancer allows women to lie on their stomachs with their breast hanging away from the body, which allows localization of radiation to the breast, while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.
  • Radium 223 / Xofigo™ for Prostate Cancer - This type of radiation therapy is available for patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer who have symptomatic bone metastases and minimal or lack of visceral metastatic disease.
  • Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) - Also known as radioembolization therapy, this radiation treatment is used for inoperable liver tumors and metastatic colon cancer to the liver. It involves implanting radioactive microspheres into the liver tumor.
  • Skin Cancer Radiation Treatment - The main type of radiation used for treating skin cancers is low-level x-rays, or superficial orthovoltage x-rays, that do not penetrate deep into the body. Electron beams and gamma rays may also be used to treat skin cancer.
  • TomoTherapy - Originating at the Department of Radiation Oncology at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, this is an advanced cancer treatment system that optimizes the delivery of radiation for cancer using a combination of precise 3D imaging and highly targeted radiation beams.

Call (973) 322-5630 to schedule an appointment.