Radiation, surgery and chemotherapy are the main weapons in the fight against cancer.    Our linear accelerator, located at VSH Cary, produces radiation which causes direct damage to cells resulting in their death.  Radiation can be indiscriminate in it’s effect on the body if not used carefully.  Our success lies in focusing the radiation on the cancer cells while limiting exposure of normal tissue.

The dose of radiation to a tumor must be calculated. The radiation oncologist uses a three dimensional image of the tumor and a special computer to help calculate proper dosage.  In this three dimensional picture we’re looking at the top surface of a dog’s head with the neck to the right and nose to the left.  The nose and mouth can be seen in cross section allowing us to see the interior of both.

Dr. Dave Ruslander has rotated the image so that we are looking at the bottom of the neck with the nose pointing upwards.  The green and red colors on the patient’s skin correlate to differing amounts of radiation received by the skin.

The computer shows cross sections of the area to be treated.  The green area in the middle of the picture is a thyroid tumor.  The other colored areas and lines within the cross section correlate to differing amounts of radiation exposure.

This patient is receiving oxygen and anesthetic through a face mask.  Radiation will cause some focal changes to the skin and hair over the treated area as can be seen here.  These changes are not burns and are not usually painful.

Radiation patients are typically back to normal within an hour after treatment and are sometimes treated on a daily, outpatient basis.  This awakening patient has markings on the skin to help the nursing staff position the limb in the same manner for repeated treatments.