Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy Arrives at St. Vincent's

St. Vincent's Bruno Cancer Center is proud to introduce a new tool to fighting cancer in the Birmingham area. St. Vincent's Bruno Cancer is a leader in providing the latest in high-resolution radiotherapy called Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT).

Physicians have long known the advantages of radiation therapy. Existing radiation therapy techniques target only the tumor and surrounding tissue in administering the radiation. IMRT allows Radiation Oncologists to more accurately target the affected areas while minimizing the effects and damage to normal tissue.

IMRT can be used on many different types of tumors including prostate, breast, brain, lung, head and neck.

IMRT may increase the effectiveness of radiation therapy by delivering more radiation, more accurately, to the tumor cells, while limiting the exposure to healthy cells surrounding the tumor.

IMRT accomplishes all these tasks by using the latest advances in 3-D imaging and treatment delivery. IMRT also allows varying intensities of the radiation to distribute the dosage that are more precise than conventional radiation therapy techniques.

IMRT uses multiple beams of varying intensities of radiation that can be aimed at the tumor from different angles. A combination of the latest computer hardware, treatment-planning software, radiation-therapy hardware, diagnostic imaging, and patient-positioning devices are used to plan and control the radiation during your treatments.

The treatment schedule with IMRT is comparable to that of traditional radiation therapy. Most treatment sessions are scheduled five days a week for six or seven weeks. Your schedule may vary.

For more information about IMRT, please call St. Vincent's Bruno Cancer Center at (205) 939-7884. A map of the hospital campus and parking areas can be found here

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