Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is one of the most common treatments for cancer.

It uses special equipment to aim high doses of radiation at cancer cells. This damages the cancer cells and causes them to die. It can be given alone or used with other treatments, such as surgery or chemotherapy.

Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to shrink tumors by killing cancer cells. It can be a highly effective method of treating cancers of the bladder, brain, head and neck, lung, breast, prostate, skin, rectum, testicles, cervix and uterus, among others.

Radiation therapy can be used alone or as part of a cancer treatment plan that may also include surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal or biological therapies. It may be used in an effort to cure the cancer, or to treat unpleasant symptoms the cancer is causing such as pain or bleeding. Depending on the type of radiation therapy technology used, patients may receive treatment
in a single session or through a series of visits over a period that can last anywhere from one to eight weeks.

MVHS works every day to set the standard for excellence in cancer care and services in the Mohawk Valley. Many of our technologies surpass those found at large university hospitals. We are proud to have achieved “commendation level” accreditation as a Comprehensive Community Cancer Center from the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) Commission
on Cancer. Our Radiation Oncology Department is accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR).