Chemotherapy
Our physicians believe that assessing the patient, reviewing all relevant
details, and considering the current physical and emotional state of
the patient results in the best chemotherapy answer for each situation.
Drugs that kill cancer cells directly, cause biological responses, work
via hormone therapy, serve as monoclonal antibodies, or otherwise treat
or cure cancer are all a part of our cancer-fighting arsenal. We also
believe symptom relief is vital. Providing patients with the finest
care in a location that eliminates a long drive to an unfamiliar city
will be of great benefit to them. This service is available in a pleasant
and comforting surroundings at Las Colinas Cancer Center and North Texas
Cancer Center of Wise.
MammoSite Therapy is an excellent
choice for early stage breast cancer patients. This radiation option
takes place after a lumpectomy has been performed. A small balloon is
placed in the tumor cavity, then expanded to allow radiation to be directed
precisely into the site. Treatment lasts approximately ten minutes,
twice a day for five days. The ease of fewer treatments (5 days vs.
traditional 35 days), improved cosmetic outcomes, and a low cancer recurrence
rate makes this a viable option for many women. This procedure is available
only at the Medical City Hospital location.
PET/CT Scanner: At the Las Colinas
location, a PET/CT scanner will open this fall adjacent to the Cancer
Center. It is under the management of Radiology Associates and will
allow easy scheduling of appointments and provide patients the ease
and convenience of returning to a familiar location.
Prostate Seed Implants are
tiny radioactive pellets or seeds are placed in or near the prostate
cancer tumor. Cancer cells are killed by the energy given off as the
low dose rate radioactive material decays or breaks down over a period
of several weeks or months, leaving no radioactive material in the prostate
gland. The procedure takes about one hour, then the patient walks out
of the clinic and is driven home by a friend or family member. Most
patients are back to a normal routine within a day or two. Sixteen years
of data are available on this method of treatment. It is has proven
to be an excellent option for treating prostate cancer with outcomes
equivalent to surgery for low risk patients and superior to surgery
combined with external beam radiation for intermediate and high risk
patients. This service is available at multiple locations.
Radiation Therapy with intensity-modulated
radiation therapy (IMRT) combines extremely precise tumor imaging
techniques with delivery of hundreds of thin beams of radiation to the
exact tumor location in three-dimensional patterns from any angle. Results
are precise control of radiation delivery, reduced radiation dosages,
declining complication rates, and fewer side effects. This technology
has raised the bar in radiation therapy nationwide. This service is
available at both Las Colinas Cancer Center and North Texas Cancer Center
of Wise.
Radiation Therapy with Image-guided radiation
therapy (IGRT) is recognized as the finest technology available
in radiation oncology at this time. This technology allows the radiation
beam to be altered depending upon day-to-day movement of the tumor.
It is used in combination with intensity-modulated radiation therapy
(IMRT). This service is available only at the Las Colinas Cancer Center.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy is a new technology that delivers highly potent biological doses of radiation to the tumor, improving the cure rate for that tumor, in a manner previously not achievable by standard conventional therapy.
