Do You Have Questions?

What is External Beam Radiation Therapy?

External beam radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) involves a series of daily treatments to accurately deliver radiation to the prostate.

What is IMRT?

IMRT is a state-of-the-art technology that allows doctors to tailor each treatment to an individual patient. Using the CT and MRI, the radiation oncologist instructs the computer on how much radiation to deliver to the prostate and to the surrounding tissues. The computer determines the best way to deliver the treatment by varying, or “modulating,” the intensity of each radiation beam.

Why is IGRT Important?

IGRT is used in conjunction with IMRT to ensure that the highly tailored treatment that is created by your clinical team is delivered exactly where it is intended with millimeter precision. Before your treatments begin, your urologist will implant small fiducial markers into your prostate utilizing a simple procedure to direct the radiation oncologist to the exact location of your prostate. During your treatment, state of the art imaging will be used to locate these markers every day and the treatment machine will be realigned to ensure that the prostate is exactly where it should be during your treatment. IGRT has been shown in studies to reduce side effects associated with radiation therapy.