Radiation Oncology Huntsville & Other Alabama Locations

Radiation oncology is a clinical and scientific specialty dedicated to the management of patients with cancer (and occasionally a few non-malignant conditions) through radiation, or in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy. There are two main types of radiation therapy: external beam radiation therapy and internal radiation therapy.

External beam radiation is also known as X-Ray therapy and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). This type of radiation is administered using a treatment machine called a linear accelerator. Treatments are typically given in small daily doses, for several weeks, depending on the total and final dose of radiation that is planned/prescribed by the radiation oncologist.

Internal radiation therapy (also call brachytherapy) is achieved by implanting “sources or seeds” (small pieces of radioactive substance) or by using an implanted device call a “reservoir,” into which a liquid radioactive substance is injected. This delivers very intense radiation to a small area of the body, thus limiting the exposure to the normal tissue.