Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to disrupt important cell functions and kill cancer cells. Normal cells are better able to withstand and survive radiation than cancer cells. The radiation is generated by a large machine outside the body and directed precisely at the tumor. The entire dose of radiation is divided into fractions and delivered over the course of several treatment sessions a week for several weeks.
- External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) is the most common method of delivering radiation for treatment of neuroendocrine tumors.
- Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a form of EBRT in which the intensity and shape of the radiation beams can change during treatment.
It matters where you receive your radiation treatments and not all radiotherapy centers are equal. Roswell Park’s Radiation Medicine department has a full-time staff of radiation oncologists, dosimetrists, physicists, radiation therapists and radiation nurses, that work with your neuroendocrine team to ensure your radiotherapy is optimally coordinated and sequenced with your other treatments. Every patient’s radiotherapy is planned and delivered by a radiation oncology team with the knowledge and experience to use the latest technology, offer the highest level of quality and safety and focus on what’s best for you at all times.