For over a century, radiation therapy has been a cornerstone in the treatment of cancer. This type of treatment uses high-energy beams of radiation that destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors – a highly effective and localized treatment used by over half of all cancer patients today.
As medical treatments evolve, many of the new advances in radiation therapy are being offered at Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Greater Lansing to treat cancer patients with the best options available and with less travel required.
Multidisciplinary Approach
Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Greater Lansing is a part of the Karmanos Cancer Network, one of the nation’s largest cancer networks, providing the best care and treatment options possible for cancer patients. In addition to the advanced treatment options, Karmanos uses a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, providing more than just treatment but also resources.
“Through these multidisciplinary meetings, our team comes together regularly and works collaboratively to review each patient’s diagnosis and come up with the patient treatment plan dedicated specifically for them,” said Dr. Brooke Spencer, radiation oncologist at Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Greater Lansing.
The cancer center consists of a team of oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, nurses, and support staff. Through the cancer center’s program, nurse navigators and social workers are also available to provide resources and to assist in each patient’s journey.
Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Greater Lansing is also accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR), representing the highest level of quality and patient safety.
Advanced Radiation Therapy Techniques Through Karmanos Cancer Institute
- Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy
Typically used for other forms of cancer, such as brain and lung cancers, stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is now being used at Karmanos Cancer Institute to treat prostate and breast cancers. Through this process, stereotactic delivery uses sub-millimeter precision to image and align the targeted area and treat it with a highly focused dose in less time.
“Using stereotactic treatment allows us to treat the patient in fewer treatments, through five treatments every other day, whereas before the patient had to be treated daily for six to eight weeks,” said Dr. Spencer. “Through this process, we are also treating a much smaller and precise area, so we can deliver a higher dose quickly. This has been an advantage for our patients in that they need to come less frequently to appointments, and it overall increases their quality of life by not receiving so many treatments over a longer course of time.”
- Pluvicto for Advanced Prostate Cancer
“For patients with metastatic prostate cancer that is no longer responding to anti-hormone therapy, Pluvicto is an excellent option for whole body treatment,” said Dr. Omar Gayar, radiation oncologist at Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Greater Lansing, who treats patients using Pluvicto therapy.
Pluvicto is a targeted therapy that delivers radiation treatment for someone with prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. This FDA-approved treatment option has shown that it can delay the progression of the disease’s growth and works to reduce the size of the tumors as well. The treatment is done through infusion and given up to six treatments.
- Deep Inspiration Breath Hold for Breast Cancer
For those with breast cancer, the deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) technique is used at Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Greater Lansing for utmost accuracy and precision in targeting the cancer cells while preventing damage to vital organs such as the heart.
DIBH consists of taking a deep breath and holding it for 15-20 seconds throughout the treatment, lifting the chest up, and pulling the heart away.
Before DIBH techniques, the heart was more vulnerable to being exposed, especially for those who had breast cancer on the left side (heart-side). The traditional technique for treating left-sided breast cancer increases the risk of long-term damage to the heart and heart disease.
- Proton Therapy
Through the Karmanos Cancer Network, patients in Lansing also have access to the McLaren Proton Therapy Center in Flint, which is the largest and newest proton therapy center in Michigan.
Proton therapy delivers the most precise radiation treatment available by targeting the tumors with unmatched accuracy, stopping radiation at the tumor instead of passing through the body – leading to fewer side effects and complications.
While a person diagnosed with cancer faces many challenges, bringing innovative care to Lansing helps patients get the care they need close to home.
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