Cancer Center

Cancer Center

Phone Numbers

Hematology / Oncology
(803) 794-7511
Radiation Oncology
(803) 791-2575
Women's Imaging
(803) 791-2486

Radiation

Our Radiation Team

  • Advanced, less-intrusive treatment and technology.
  • One of the few teams in the region to offer three-week radiation for low-risk breast cancer.
  • State-of-the-art concentrated stereotactic radiosurgery technology.
(803) 791-2575

What is radiation?

Radiation uses high energy X-rays to damage the DNA of cancer cells, killing them or stopping them from reproducing. It can treat most cancer types.

How is it administered?

To give normal cells time to heal afterward, treatments are usually given in small daily doses for five days a week.

Radiation can be delivered from outside the body (external beam radiation) or sources placed in the body near the cancer cells (internal radiation, or brachytherapy).

Our Targeted Treatment

Our affiliation with the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center gives patients access to more than 200 clinical trials and a wide range of the most promising cancer treatments currently available. For radiation, this means we can offer the latest, targeted procedures and technology.

Benefits

  • Less damage to organs
  • Fewer side effects
  • Fewer complications

Advanced Treatment

GammaTile® Therapy

GammaTile is a Surgically Targeted Radiation Therapy (STaRT) for operable brain tumors that provides immediate radiation treatment after tumor removal. Each GammaTile has radiation sources embedded in a collagen tile that deliver a precise dose of radiation focused right where it is needed and away from healthy brain tissue.

Precise Radiation Delivery (Intensity-Modulated Radiation)

Uses computer-controlled X-rays to deliver precise radiation to tumors.

What is it?

  • Computer-controlled radiation therapy.
  • Little or no radiation delivered to surrounding healthy tissue.

What are the benefits?

  • Preserves healthy tissue.
  • Targets the tumor with maximum radiation.
  • Matches radiation dose to tumor size.

Image-Guided Radiation (IGRT)

Delivers radiation more accurately because the radiation team can see the area to be treated on a screen.

What is it?

  • High-quality images let the radiation team see the area.
  • Radiation position can be adjusted with millimeter precision.
  • Changes position as the body moves.

What are the benefits?

  • Preserves healthy tissue.
  • Protects surrounding organs.

High Power Radiosurgery

Microwave ablation and our new stereotactic radiosurgery aim energy directly at cancer cells.

What is it?

  • Concentrated amounts of radiation target the tumor more accurately.
  • Extremely advanced cancer treatment technology.

What are the benefits?

  • Causes less damage to healthy cells.

3-Week Radiation for Low-Risk Breast Cancer

We're one of the only hospitals in the region to treat low-risk cases with three weeks of radiation instead of six.

What is it?

  • Effective treatment with half the radiation and half the time.
  • A treatment regimen that's recommended nationwide, but not often followed.

What are the benefits?

  • Less exposure to radiation.
  • Fewer side effects.

Lymph Node Recovery After Surgery

Lymphedema is a chronic swelling that occurs in arms or legs after lymph node damage or removal, which is not uncommon in certain surgeries. While there is no cure for lymphedema, we can help you reduce its effects.

Managing Lymphedema

All patients are referred to physical therapy for treatment.

To keep swelling under control, we use a combination of bandaging, exercise, skin care and manual drainage. Our patients usually experience few significant long-term changes to their everyday lives.

The Lexington Medical Center Foundation funds treatment for patients who lack insurance, or who are underinsured.