Radiation Oncology at Emanuel Cancer Center Turlock
Radiation Oncology Services
If you or a loved one needs radiation oncology care in the Central Valley we’re here to help you understand the next steps. Radiation oncology care uses radiation therapy to help treat cancer or manage cancer-related symptoms, with care through the Central Valley Doctors Health System (CVDHS) Physician Group at Emanuel Cancer Center in Turlock
What Is Radiation Oncology?
Radiation oncology services are a type of cancer care that uses radiation therapy to treat cancer or help manage symptoms caused by cancer. Radiation oncology treatment uses directed X-rays or subatomic particles, primarily for cancer management. It may be used in both curative and palliative settings, depending on the patient’s condition and treatment goals.
Radiation therapy is a local treatment, which means it treats a specific part of the body rather than the whole body. For example, external beam radiation therapy comes from a machine outside the body that aims radiation at the cancer.
Oncology radiation therapy may also be delivered internally. This is called brachytherapy, which places radioactive sources within or near the area being treated. Your radiation oncology care plan may include external radiation, internal radiation or another approach based on your diagnosis, treatment goals and the area being treated.
How Does Radiation Oncology Work?
Radiation oncology doctors use radiation therapy to treat a specific area of the body. It works by damaging the DNA inside cancer cells. This may help stop cancer cells from dividing and growing. Radiation is often given in a series of treatments to help healthy cells recover between treatments, helping make this treatment more effective.
External beam radiation therapy may be given as outpatient care. This means you may usually go to a clinic or radiation therapy center for treatment and do not stay overnight in the hospital.
What Types of Cancer Can Radiation Oncology Treat?
At Emanuel Cancer Center’s Radiation Oncology Department, our radiation oncologists work with your care team to support communication and coordinate treatment planning as part of your radiation oncology care. We treat a wide range of cancers, including but not limited to:
- Brain cancer
- Breast cancer
- Gynecologic cancers
- Head and neck cancers
- Lung cancer
- Lymphoma and sarcoma
- Metastatic cancers
- Prostate cancer
- Rectal and anal cancer
- Skin cancer
Low- Dose Radiation Therapy (LDRT) for Benign (non-cancerous) Conditions
While radiation oncology is often used in cancer care, a radiation oncology physician may also use it to treat certain benign conditions. These are noncancerous conditions that may still need medical care based on symptoms, location or treatment goals.
Benign conditions we treat include:
- Painful musculoskeletal conditions, including osteoarthritis, plantar fasciitis, bursitis, epicondylitis and tendinopathies
- Dupuytren’s disease
- Heterotopic ossification
- Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs)
- Keloids
- Graves’ ophthalmopathy
- Gynecomastia
Patients are evaluated and treatment may be considered for conditions with persistent symptoms despite conventional treatments such as medications, physical therapy, injections, or surgery, or for patients who are not candidates for surgery. To learn more please fill out the request an appointment form at the bottom of this page.
Radiation Oncology Treatments and Procedures
CVDHS Physician Group at Emanuel Cancer Center offers several radiation oncology procedures. The type of cancer radiation treatment may depend on the tumor type, its location in the body, the treatment goal, the radiation dose and the treatment schedule. Our radiation oncology procedures include:
- Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT): Uses imaging such as PET, MRI or CT before and during treatment to help confirm the tumor’s location. This may be used for tumors near sensitive structures or tumors that may move during or between treatments.
- Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT): Uses computer-controlled linear accelerators to deliver precise radiation doses that conform more closely to the three-dimensional shape of the tumor while helping limit dose to nearby normal tissue.
- Skin surface brachytherapy: A type of brachytherapy that places radiation sources on the body surface to treat the targeted area.
- Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT): Uses external beam radiation to deliver a high dose of radiation to the targeted tumor outside the brain or spinal cord, in a single dose or a small number of treatments.
- Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS): Often used for tumors in the brain and spine, often in a single session. Although it includes the word “surgery,” SRS is described as a noninvasive outpatient procedure that does not require an incision or general anesthesia
- Gynecologic brachytherapy: A type of brachytherapy used in gynecologic cancers, where treatment is planned based on the tumor extent and anatomy.
What To Expect Before Radiation Treatment
Before radiation treatment starts, we’ll take time to plan your care and help you understand what may happen next. These steps will include meeting with your care team, reviewing your health information and preparing your body position so treatment can be delivered accurately each time.
- Meet with your physician or nurse: Before starting radiation therapy, you will meet with your physician or nurse. This visit may include a physical exam, a review of your medical history and possibly imaging tests.
- Talk through your treatment plan: Your care team will discuss radiation therapy with you, including its benefits, possible side effects and ways you can care for yourself during and after treatment.
- Complete a treatment planning session: If radiation therapy is part of your care plan, you will have a planning session called simulation. During simulation, your team plans the treatment area and may take scans to help guide where radiation will be delivered.
- Prepare for accurate positioning: Small marks may be placed on your skin to help align the equipment for each treatment. Depending on the area being treated, a body mold or mask may also be made to help you stay in the same position during treatment.
- Use the same setup for each treatment: These planning steps help your team position you accurately each time you come in for radiation therapy.
What to Expect During Radiation Treatment
During radiation treatment, we’ll help you get into the right position before the treatment begins. You may be asked to change into a gown or robe, depending on the area being treated. A radiation therapist will position you using the small marks on your skin and a body mold or mask if one was made for you. You’ll need to stay very still so the radiation goes to the same place each time.
The actual radiation may take only a few minutes. However, your full visit may take longer because time is needed to position you correctly before treatment starts. Your radiation therapist will monitor you from outside the treatment room and may communicate with you during treatment. If you feel sick or uncomfortable, tell the therapist. The machine can be stopped at any time. During external beam radiation treatment, patients often are not able to feel, hear, see or smell the radiation.
How Long Are Radiation Treatments?
The length of radiation treatment can vary. Your schedule may depend on the type of cancer, the goal of treatment, the radiation dose and how the treatment is planned.
Many people who receive external beam radiation therapy have treatment once a day, five days a week, Monday through Friday. The total number of treatments can vary from person to person.
Request an Appointment
By submitting this form you agree to receive periodic health related information and updates. We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions. We cannot give you medical advice via e-mail. To discuss any medical symptoms or conditions contact your physician or other healthcare professional. In the case of a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
Office: 209-664-5030
Fax: 209-664-5037
We specialize in using targeted radiation to treat cancer. We employ advanced technologies like image-guided radiation therapy, stereotactic body radiation therapy, and high-dose rate brachytherapy. Our team collaborates closely with other medical professionals to create personalized treatment plans.
Our Providers
New Patients
If you would like to speak with the New Patient Coordinator, please call 209-664-5022 office or fax 209-664-5029.
Referral form for your primary care physician to complete
Established Patients
To ask questions or schedule an appointment, please call 209-664-5030 or fax 209-664-5037.
Radiation Oncology FAQ
Radiation Oncology Services in The Central Valley
At CVDHS Physician Group at Emanuel Cancer Center in Turlock, we provide comprehensive, evidence-based cancer care and work to support patients and the physicians who entrust them to our care. We also coordinate treatment planning, communicate with the patient’s care team and provide access to diagnostic and therapeutic options.
When you need radiation oncology care, it can help to know where to start. Our team is here to talk with you, answer questions and help you take the next step in your care. Reach out to us to request an appointment.