External Beam Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy can be delivered in two ways, externally and internally. During external beam radiation therapy, the radiation oncology team uses a machine to direct high-energy X-rays at the cancer. Internal radiation therapy, called brachytherapy, involves placing radioactive sources (for example, radioactive seeds) inside your body. 

External Beam Radiation Therapy 

During external beam radiation therapy, a beam (or multiple beams) of radiation is directed through the skin to the cancer and the immediate surrounding area. The goal is to destroy the main tumor and any nearby cancer cells. To minimize side effects, treatments typically are given for five consecutive days, over a number of weeks. This enables doctors to apply enough radiation into the body to kill the cancer while giving healthy cells time to recover. 

The radiation beam usually is generated by a machine called a linear accelerator or linac. At the heart of Scottsdale Healthcare’s Radiation Oncology department is the Varian Millennium Linear Accelerator, the most advanced general-purpose radiation therapy machine in the world. Using treatment-planning computers and software, your treatment team controls the size and shape of the beam, as well as how it is directed at your body. 

There are several types of external beam therapies. Your radiation oncologist will determine which to use based on the type of cancer you have. 

To learn more about radiation oncology at Scottsdale Healthcare, please contact our Cancer Care Coordinators by calling 480-323-1255
(toll free 1-877-273-3639) or emailing ccc@shc.org