Other Cancers Treated at CTCA

We treat almost all forms of cancer at our center, through the integration of multiple medical specialties and treatment machines. In the radiation oncology department, we can treat with external radiation or internal radiation.

For external radiation, we have had experience with IMRT dating back to 1997, and currently we have a very active tomotherapy program that allows us to deliver a very high caliber of treatment for many cancer types and stages.

Other Brachytherapy Treatments Available at CTCA

Internal radiation, or brachytherapy, has been one of our major strengths at CTCA since 1994. Although we especially treat a lot of lung, prostate, and breast cancer, we do use brachytherapy for other cancer types:

Gynecologic Cancer

Cancers of the lining of the uterus (endometrial cancer) are generally treated with surgical removal of the uterus. This is often followed by brachytherapy to the top of the vagina to prevent cancer from recurring in that area. External beam radiation is also often given.

Cancers of the cervix can be treated with surgery for early stages. The more advanced stages are treated with a combination of external beam radiation and brachytherapy. Tomotherapy allows us to treat the pelvic lymph nodes without giving a high dose to the intestines, bladder, and rectum. Large cervix cancers, such as stage 3 or 4A are particularly well suited to the addition of highly targeted external beam radiation such as tomotherapy.

Head and Neck Cancer

Brachytherapy catheters can be placed into the tongue, or into the neck after a tumor has been removed. Brachytherapy can allow retreatment of some cancers that have been previously irradiated!

Anal-rectal Cancers

"Sphincter sparing" means treatment methods that can kill the cancer while leaving the rectum and anus in place. Through combinations of targeted treatments, such as transanal tumor resections, intravenous and intra-arterial chemotherapy, IMRT, tomotherapy and brachytherapy, we are often able to successfully destroy the cancer without needing to resort to a colostomy bag. All low rectal cancers and anal cancers are carefully evaluated by our team for the possibility of sphincter saving.

Sarcomas

Brachytherapy reduces the chances of a high grade sarcoma recurring locally after surgery (study). After the tumor is removed by the surgeon, catheters are placed into the "surgical bed" where the tumor used to be. The skin is then closed over the catheters. After a couple days of healing, 8 - 10 brachytherapy treatments are given through the catheters over 5 days. This is much faster than the 5 - 6 weeks required for external beam radiation.

Miscellaneous Other Uses

Brachy catheters can be placed into nodules under the surface of the skin. Some other hospitals use brachytherapy for eye and brain tumors.