A carefully placed dose of radiation, much higher than what would be used to produce a standard x-ray image, can destroy the cancer cells’ ability to grow and divide. An understanding of this process makes radiation therapy an important tool in the fight against cancer, one that’s commonly used in conjunction with other treatments such as chemotherapy and/or surgery. Nearly half of all cancer patients are given radiation at some point in their treatment.
A linear accelerator is needed to generate the radiation for this process. Cape Fear Valley Cancer Center is equipped with four such devices, supplemented with a state-of-the-art, 4D-capable CT scanner to aid in the planning of cancer treatment.
The most effective radiation therapy delivers a high dose of radiation, which lowers the chance of recurrence, but minimizes the exposure of healthy tissues. This precision is increasingly accessible using new technologies.