Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy can be an effective treatment for most types of cancer, as well as noncancerous growths.

Radiation therapy uses invisible, high-energy wavelengths to damage cancer and other harmful cells. From stereotactic radiosurgery to implantable “seeds” of radiation (brachytherapy), MU Health Care has the latest types of radiation available. Our radiation oncologists offer personalized treatments in Columbia and Jefferson City.

Whether you’re getting radiation for cancer or another condition, our goal is to make your treatment as smooth as possible. With our team’s extensive experience, we can design highly precise treatments personalized to your needs. We’ve also developed detailed procedures to help minimize damage to healthy tissue and reduce side effects.

Types of Radiation Therapy at MU Health Care

Our specialists can deliver radiation from an external machine (external beam radiation therapy) or internally (brachytherapy). For some conditions, we can use certain medications (theranostics) to deliver radiation inside the body.

Specialized forms of radiation available at MU Health Care include:

Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)

With IMRT, our team can “shape” radiation beams to match your tumor. This type of external beam radiation treatment involves multiple sessions over several weeks.

Stereotactic Radiation Therapy (SRT)

SRT delivers very high doses of external beam radiation in fewer sessions than typical radiation. Depending on your condition, you may only need a few radiation treatments, making it more convenient.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS)

SRS is an advanced, external beam radiation treatment for brain tumors and brain metastases. MU Health Care was the first academic health system in mid-Missouri to offer SRS.

Brachytherapy

With brachytherapy, we implant tiny “seeds” of radioactive material in your body to deliver continuous radiation directly to your tumor.

Theranostics

This emerging treatment uses medications with radioactive substances that attach to proteins on or in cancer cells. We offer two types of theranostic medications:

Lutathera® (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate) for adults with neuroendocrine tumors in the gastrointestinal system or pancreas that are positive for the somatostatin hormone
Pluvicto® (Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan PSMA) for metastatic prostate cancer

Radiation Therapy for Diseases Besides Cancer

Beyond cancer, certain radiation therapies can also treat other diseases such as:

Benign brain and eye tumors
Severe facial pain (trigeminal neuralgia)
Irregular blood vessel formations (arteriovenous malformations, or AVMs)
Severe birthmarks
Osteoarthritis

Getting Radiation Therapy at MU Health Care

Your medical oncologist, surgeon or other specialist may refer you to our team. Or you can reach out to us directly.

What to Expect With Radiation Therapy

When you come to MU Health Care for radiation therapy, our team will explain all the details before your treatment.

Before Radiation Therapy

Inside one of our exam rooms, a nurse will take your vital signs and ask questions about your medical history. They will also provide some additional education on your radiation treatment.

Then, you’ll meet with your radiation oncologist, who will review your history and explain how radiation therapy can help your condition. They will also describe the treatment and what you can expect.

For your next visit, you’ll have a simulation planning session to make your future treatment as precise as possible. The dosimetrist will develop personalized plans to target your tumor while sparing healthy tissue. The radiation oncologist will select a plan, and then we’ll schedule your treatment.

During Radiation Therapy

Before you receive radiation therapy, we’ll make sure you’re in the same position as your simulation. When you’re ready, we will give you radiation, which takes about 10 to 20 minutes.

You’ll return for radiation therapy on a set schedule. Each time you return, we will check you for side effects. Depending on the type and location of radiation, you may have different side effects. Our radiation oncologists have developed special protocols to help reduce the risks of these side effects.

After Radiation Therapy

When you’ve finished your radiation treatments, we will ask you to return so we can monitor your tumor or condition. We may schedule follow-up visits every three months or more often, if needed.