Radiation Therapy

At the Cowell Family Cancer Center in Traverse City, we use the most recent advances in radiation therapy equipment and techniques to deliver quality patient care. We provide the following services:

Brachytherapy

Both permanent (seed implants) and temporary (high dose rate-HDR) are available. Internal radiation therapy uses radioactive sources to treat gynecological, prostate, and other cancers. This treatment is by itself or in combination with External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT).

CT Simulation

This is the first step in the radiation process. It allows the radiation oncologist to determine the exact size and location of the area to be treated. After the images are obtained, our team of certified medical dosimetrists and medical physicists design individual treatment plans for our patients to deliver optimal treatments as prescribed by the radiation oncologist. 

External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT)

We use state-of the-art linear accelerators with multi-leaf collimators and on-board imaging to deliver daily treatments. Treatments are delivered with 3D conformal and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) techniques to target tumors accurately and efficiently to improve outcomes, patient comfort, and safety. The multi-leaf collimation allows us to conform the beams for each individual patient.

Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)

The most recent advances in Radiation Therapy are available to our patients. Staff has extensive training and knowledge to implement several of the latest modalities to precisely reproduce daily treatments. Cone Beam CT, portal-vision, and seed matching all contribute to the accuracy of our treatments.

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)

This technique enhances our ability to minimize doses to normal surrounding tissue and organs, while optimizing the dose to the tumor. Cancers of the lung, prostate, brain, gynecologic, head and neck region, and GI tract benefit from this treatment modality.

SpaceOAR® System and SpaceOAR Vue™ System

This new technology protects prostate cancer patients from the negative effects of radiation therapy. Because of the close proximity of the prostate to the rectum, prostate radiation therapy typically results in some radiation hitting the rectum, which can sometimes cause negative side effects.

With the SpaceOAR System, a hydrogel spacer is injected during a minimally invasive procedure, pushing the rectum away from the prostate and out of the high dose radiation region. It remains in place for three months during radiation treatment, and is then absorbed and leaves the body in the patient’s urine — leaving nothing behind.

SpaceOAR Vue offers visibility under a CT scan, which the standard SpaceOAR Hydrogel does not. This opens the benefits of SpaceOAR pre-treatment to patients with pacemakers and other implanted devices for whom MRI imaging is not an option.

Learn more about the SpaceOAR technique for prostate cancer treatment on this Your Health Matters, courtesy of 7&4 News:

Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) and Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRT)

The most recent advances in Radiation Therapy combine to expand treatment options for some of the most complex cancers, such as brain, lung, liver, and spine, along with several non-cancerous tumors. Our TrueBeam STx technology delivers treatments with pinpoint accuracy and precision. These treatments are delivered in 1 - 5 visits to our department under the direct guidance of our radiation oncologists. 

Assistance is available to patients and family who require transportation and/or housing during their course of treatment. 

For more information: 
231-392-8400 
cancerservices@mhc.net