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Our team of radiation therapy experts uses a multidisciplinary approach with the latest technology and treatment methods to develop a customized treatment plan for each patient. Thank you for allowing us to care for you.
The Covenant Health Radiation Therapy network is one of the largest and most advanced providers of radiotherapy in the region.
Each of Covenant’s six radiation therapy departments has a team of experts that provide personalized and compassionate cancer care.
Each location is equipped with the most advanced technology that can precisely focus radiation on the tumor.
What is Radiation Oncology?
Radiation therapy is used in the treatment of >60% of all cancer patients. It may be used alone or in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy. There are three forms of radiation therapy, all of which are offered by the Covenant Health Radiation Therapy Network.
1.) External Beam Radiation Therapy is when the radiation is delivered from outside of the body and focuses on the tumor.
2.) Internal Radiation Therapy (called brachytherapy) is when the radiation is placed inside the body and the radiation is delivered from inside the body.
3.) Systemic Radiation Therapy is when the radiation is given as an injection and goes through the whole body.
Our goal is to provide you with the most compassionate, high-quality, and innovative cancer care available while being close to your home and family.
Covenant Radiation Oncology Network offers more radiation treatment options in East Tennessee for all types of cancer. Read on to learn more about treatment options available within Covenant Health.
Image Guided Radiation Therapy
Image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) is a technique where CT images are taken on the treatment machine immediately before treatment, and sometimes even during the treatment itself. These images are used to help align the patient for treatment, and to make sure that the radiation beams are focused on the cancer.
Without CT imaging, the tumor could be missed and a larger portion of healthy tissue could be treated. Image guidance helps make sure that the cancer is on target for every treatment. Covenant’s staff pioneered CT-based image guidance and were the first in the United States to use megavoltage CT image guidance.
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy
Thompson Cancer Survival Center was one of the first facilities in the world to treat patients with Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy. This technique uses hundreds to thousands of small beams of radiation that all converge on the cancer site. The strength, or intensity, of
each of these beams, is precisely adjusted according to the personalized treatment plan. The radiation is shaped around the cancer from all angles, to maximize impact on the cancer while minimizing the effect on surrounding healthy tissue. IMRT is combined with daily CT Image Guidance to ensure that the radiation is precisely focused on the cancer. IMRT is often used to treat cancers of the pancreas, esophagus, pelvis, rectum, prostate, lung, head & neck, and brain.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) is a treatment approach that delivers the treatment in 2 to 5 treatment sessions. SBRT uses a higher daily dose of radiation than conventional three (3D) dimensional radiation, proton therapy, or intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). In addition to delivering the treatment faster, SBRT’s concentrated radiation dose has been shown to yield better outcomes in some patients. SBRT is combined with daily CT Image Guidance is ensure that the radiation is precisely focused on the cancer.
SBRT is appropriate for the liver, lung, abdomen, prostate, lymph nodes, and spine.
Other treatment options are available for certain kinds of cancer.