Radiation oncology in New Mexico
At Lovelace, our radiation treatment centers are staffed by some of the best radiation oncologists in the field. We utilize cutting-edge technology and tailored approaches to deliver effective radiation therapy for various types of cancer. Our goal is to provide compassionate, comprehensive care to enhance your treatment experience and outcomes. If you’re considering radiation oncology as part of your cancer treatment plan, we invite you to book radiation therapy with us. Trust our experts to guide you through each step, ensuring the highest standard of care and support.
Our radiation oncology services
Radiation therapy is a form of cancer treatment that uses high-energy particles to destroy cancer cells in an effort to keep them from spreading within the body. Radiation therapy is a very common treatment for cancer and can be used alone or with other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or surgery. Our radiation oncology program features highly skilled, compassionate medical professionals and state-of-the-art equipment, including:
- 3D BiPlane: BiPlane imaging provides a detailed 3D portrait of the patient’s blood vessels and soft tissue anatomy. It also allows doctors to map blood flow through vessels in real time.
- 4D CT Big Bore: CT (computerized tomography) Big Bore offers advanced tools for radiation planning with a bore size of 85cm, allowing the imaging of patients for treatment planning with breast and lung cancer who need to hold their arms above their head. The 4D component gives the ability to capture images of tumors that move with breathing and know their location at any point in time, allowing for more precise treatment planning, resulting in less toxicity.
- Gamma knife: Building on Leksell Gamma Knife precision and adding new technology, the Leksell Gamma Knife Icon gives clinicians the option to perform single or fractionated frame-based or frameless treatments, allowing for more individualized delivery— without sacrificing precision and accuracy.
- PET/CT scan: This nuclear imaging technique combines position tomography (PET) and CT into one machine. A technician injects a glucose solution into a vein, which moves throughout the body during the scan, allowing the radiologist to get a more detailed picture of cancerous tissues. The images are captured in a single scan, providing a high level of accuracy, while cutting imaging time and radiation exposure in half.
- SIRT: Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT), or radioembolization (Y-90), offers targeted treatment for inoperable tumors. SIRT directs treatment to the tumor site by using beads loaded with high-dose radiation. This approach also reduces damage to healthy tissues by targeting the radiation exposure exclusively to the tumor.
- SpaceOAR Hydrogel: The Space OAR (organ at risk) System is a temporary injectable gel that protects the rectum in men undergoing radiation therapy for prostate cancer. The SpaceOAR System is placed in a patient prior to radiation therapy through a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure. It is the first and only prostate cancer spacing device to receive FDA clearance. SpaceOAR hydrogel can be used with all radiation therapy modalities.
- TomoTherapy: The TomoTherapy system is designed to safely and routinely deliver image-guided, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IG-IMRT) for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. The smaller radiation beams combine with the unique helical delivery method, enabling clinicians to deliver a more customized and precise treatment plan.
- Varian 21iX: The linear accelerator treatment machine, the Varian 21iX, is capable of intensity-modulated radiation therapy and image-guided radiation therapy. It has on-board imaging and Cone Beam CT, allowing physicians to verify patient position and tumor position at the time of treatment. It also offers real-time position management (RPM) for respiratory gating.
To learn more about our radiation therapy services and technology, please call us.