Radiation Oncology
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Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Southeastern Regional Medical Center (Southeastern) fights cancer with advanced treatments, including innovative forms of radiation therapy.
Radiation can be a part of many cancer treatment plans, and is often combined with surgery and chemotherapy. When you first arrive at Southeastern, you will meet with a team of doctors and clinicians who will fully explain every treatment option that may be best for your individual needs.
“We present all of the options available for each patient depending on the type, stage and location of their cancer,” says Christian Hyde, MD, a radiation oncologist with Southeastern. “We listen to the patient’s preferences and give the most up-to-date treatment recommendations. We empower the patient with the knowledge they need to make the best treatment decision for their individual needs and their family.”
Radiation Oncology at Southeastern
Along with radiation oncologists, the Radiation Oncology Department at Southeastern includes physicists and dosimetrists. There are also nurses and radiation therapists who will be a part of your care team, should radiation therapy be a part of your treatment plan.
“Over the days and weeks of treatment, we get to know each unique patient we serve, in a way that few other doctors or nurses can,” notes Dr. Hyde.
Your care team also includes clinicians from other disciplines, such as naturopathic medicine, nutrition and mind-body medicine, to help reduce treatment-related side effects and improve your quality of life. Your entire care team is here to answer your questions and support you throughout the treatment process.
“At CTCA it is not just about the advanced technologies that we have available, but the team approach to using them,” says Dr. Hyde. “Not only are the skills of the doctors important, but also the nurses, technicians and therapists at every level of the hospital. From the surgical oncologists to the greeters, we are all focused on what is best for our patients and their loved ones.”
Radiation Therapies
Southeastern offers several types of radiation therapy, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Calypso® 4D Localization System™ (GPS for the Body)
- External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT)
- Frameless Stereotactic Radiosurgery
- High-Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy
- Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
- Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
- Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) *
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery
- Superficial Hyperthermia
- TheraSphere®
- TomoTherapy® HD
- Varian TrueBEAM
- Wide Bore CT Scan
*Coming soon
Quality of Life
We want your quality of life to be the best it can be while undergoing cancer treatment. Therefore, your care team at Southeastern will work with you to mitigate any unpleasant symptoms and side effects during each step of your cancer journey.
Side Effects
In many cases, we aggressively prevent side effects by treating you before they even occur, so that you remain as comfortable as possible during treatment.
Your nutritionist can show you how to combat fatigue by eating certain foods and your mind-body therapist will offer relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety. To avoid skin irritation, we can start you on a skin regimen before treatment even begins.
All of our experts will listen to your concerns regarding cancer treatment side effects and can suggest a variety of potential solutions. Also, a nurse care manager is available on nights and weekends to make sure your concerns can be addressed at all times.
Wound Care
Southeastern has a dedicated Wound Care unit located in the Infusion Center. Beth Culpepper, a certified wound care nurse, has extensive experience in wound care and has received nationally recognized wound care certifications.
She is available to assist in addressing any wound care concerns that may arise during your radiation treatment, and make sure that you are healing properly. This can help with a swifter recovery, and make sure that you are able to return to doing the things you enjoy most.
Team Communication
Your multidisciplinary cancer care team at Southeastern works together to fight cancer and to develop a plan to make sure you have the best possible quality of life. We want you to complete radiation treatment with minimal disruptions so that you can begin your road to recovery.
“I work with my colleagues in surgery and medical oncology to make sure that we are coming up with the best overall treatment plan for each individual patient,” says Dr. Hyde. “We meet during the week to discuss each new patient, and then we can make any adjustments necessary along the way. We all work together to make sure we are doing everything that we can to help each patient throughout their fight. ”
