Radiation Therapy
Get radiation therapy tailored to your needs and schedule at UNC Health Johnston. You can stay near home in Clayton or Smithfield for the latest technology thanks to our partnership with UNC Rex Healthcare.
What is Radiation Treatment?
Radiation kills cancer tumors by using high-energy waves you can’t see or feel. At UNC Health Johnston, a linear accelerator sends beams of radiation into your body as you lie on a table. This machine can treat cancer almost anywhere in your body.
Trust your care team to use advanced technology that makes treatment more effective and limits side effects.
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
IMRT adjusts the radiation dose to match the exact shape of your tumor. The radiation beam may rotate around you to get the best angle. This means more radiation can go to your tumor, and less goes to surrounding healthy organs.
Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
IGRT uses images taken of your tumor before and sometimes during radiation treatment. Your care team compares these images to older images to see if your tumor has moved. If it has changed position, your radiation team will adjust treatment to target the cancer better.
You may benefit from IGRT especially if your tumor is in the lungs or another area that moves as you breathe.
Certified Radiation Experts
Rest assured you’ll be in the qualified hands of:
- Board-certified radiation oncologists (cancer doctors) from UNC Rex Healthcare
- Certified medical dosimetrist (optimizes your radiation dose)
- Certified radiation therapists (provide the treatment)
- Medical physicist (evaluates and monitors your treatment)
- Oncology Certified Nurses (caregivers with advanced training in cancer)
Your Comfort During Treatment
Ask your care team members for help relaxing during radiation therapy. They can provide warm blankets and recommend comfortable positions for your treatment sessions. After treatment, enjoy refreshments at the coffee bars in our radiation oncology locations.
Brachytherapy
In some cases, your doctor may recommend brachytherapy (internal radiation). This type of treatment places tiny radioactive pellets in or near a tumor in the prostate, breast, or another organ. If you need this therapy, we’ll help you get care at REX-UNC Radiation Oncology-Raleigh.
