Baystate Regional Cancer Program (BRCP) physicians customize treatment plans for each patient.  These often combine radiation therapy with other cancer treatment options (such as chemotherapy and surgery).  The goal is an individual treatment plan with the highest likelihood of a successful outcome.

BRCP - Radiation Oncology is responsible for prescribing, delivering and monitoring the radiation therapy component of the care our patients receive.

Our mission is to provide the highest quality treatment in a safe and effective manner while at the same time providing emotional support in a comfortable and convenient setting.

We contribute to BRCP's well-earned reputation as the most advanced cancer care facility in western Massachusetts by having the widest range of radiation oncology services available and our use of state-of-the-art technology.  We are a national show site for Siemens, a leading supplier of advanced radiation therapy equipment.  This gives our patients local access to advanced CT simulation and linear accelerators which enable superior tumor localization and reduce damage to surround healthy tissue during radiation.

High-dose brachytherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, and prostate seed implants round out our comprehensive radiation oncology services. 

Learn about radiation treatment offered at the D'Amour Center for Cancer Care....

Learn about radiation therapy for children with cancer at Baystate.....

Get started with our Patient Guide to Cancer Care....

Our Services 

Radiation therapy(also called radiotherapy) uses radiation in collaboration with other oncology treatments to:

• Reduce tumor size - to make it easier to remove tumors surgically
• Stop cancer from spreading
• Control pain, pressure and other cancer symptoms
• Control benign diseases, including acoustic neuromas, heterotopic bone formation, meningiomas, as well as many others.

The oncology team determines the most appropriate treatment plan for a patient based on numerous factors:

• Details of the patient's individual cancer, such as the type of cancer, location, stage, etc.
• The age, gender, current health, and medical history of the patient.

According to the American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), about two-thirds of all cancer patients receive some form of radiation therapy in their lifetime.  

The main types of radiation therapy, all of which are available from BRCP - Radiation Oncology are:

• External Beam Radiation - from a source outside the body, similar to a diagnostic x-ray.  There are several external beam radiation techniques common in clinical practice and available from BRCP Radiation Oncology:
  • Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT)
  • Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
  • Stereotactic Radiosurgery
  • Stereotactic Radiotherapy
  • Imaged Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)

• Internal radiation (also known as brachytherapy) - involves placing the radiation source inside the body next to or in the tumor.  While there are many brachytherapy techniques, Baystate principally utilizes:
  • High-dose rate (HDR) implants for several types of cancer
  • Permanent interstitial implants for prostate cancer

   

• Additional Treatment Options that may be offered to you include:
  • Radiosensitizers
  • Chemotherapy
  • Immunotherapy

Patient Support & Information

• General Information About Radiation Therapy
• Patient Information Brochures
• • Brochures in English
  • Folletos en Español
  • Brochures in Arabic
• Questions to ask your radiation oncologist
• Tips for patients
• Side Effects of Radiation Oncology
• Clinical Trials