With the invention of image-guided radiation therapy over the last five years and with newer stereotactic localization systems, radiation oncologists can be extremely accurate with radiation therapy treatments. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) offers doctors another option to treat patients with tumors, in many cases in conjunction with surgery.

SBRT is used to treat both benign and cancerous tumors such as spine, lung and liver tumors. It is very important to treat benign tumors that have an aggressive nature because these particular tumors grow rapidly and interfere with other areas of the body resulting in pain and adversely affecting a patient's health. For instance, if a benign tumor is near the spinal cord, it can cause pain, weakness or numbness.

Doctors are already seeing just how effective SBRT can be. In non-small cell lung cancer patients who are not able to have surgery, there is an improvement in outcomes by using larger and fewer high-dose treatments over several treatments than extending low dose radiation over several weeks.

Treating tumor patients whether the tumor is cancerous or benign, requires a collaboration of physicians including radiation oncologists, oncologists, medical oncologists, physicists, neurosurgeons, pain specialists, and primary care physicians. To find out if you are a candidate, discuss this procedure with your physician or call 1-888-777-5959. You can also find a Methodist-affiliated physician by clicking here.