Our radiation oncology team offers tailored care to relieve your symptoms and get rid of your cancer.
Medically reviewed by Elizabeth Morris, M.D. on Oct. 05, 2023.
Radiation therapy destroys cancer cells with high doses of radiation. Radiation oncologists focus the radiation on your tumor (not your whole body).
Our nationally recognized Department of Radiation Oncology is part of the renowned UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center. Our team of experts provides advanced radiation therapy in a caring environment.
The radiation oncology providers at UC Davis Health lead the field with advanced technology and therapy options. We offer you the best options available to treat cancer.
We offer radiation treatments using Elekta Versa Blue and Versa Gold linear accelerators. This technology allows us to target tumors quickly and precisely. It is ideal for treating a hard-to-reach mass, tumors that tend to move or sit next to vital organs.
With brachytherapy, we place a radioactive source inside your body next to your tumor. This delivers treatment directly to the tumor and avoids exposing the rest of your body. Brachytherapy treats breast, gynecological and prostate cancers.
This therapy treats brain, head and neck tumors. We use a robotic radiosurgical system to target radiation to your tumor precisely. This treatment is noninvasive (requires no surgical incisions) and takes less time than traditional radiation therapy.
IGRT uses X-ray technology to locate your tumor and focus radiation directly on the cancerous cells. The defined target allows us to minimize the effect of radiation on your healthy tissue.
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For questions and appointment information
Your radiation treatment plan will depend on your type of cancer. You may have multiple sessions each week for several months. Your radiation oncologist will discuss the details of your plan and how to prepare for therapy before your first session.
You will have a simulation and planning session before you begin radiation treatments. This is like a “dress rehearsal” where we use imaging technology to locate your tumor, but you will not receive radiation. After this session, we will develop your treatment plan.
What happens during your treatment depends on the type of therapy you receive. External beam radiation takes about 15 minutes and is painless. For brachytherapy, you may need anesthesia while we insert the radioactive source. You will not feel pain during the procedure.
You will go home after your treatment if you have external radiation. You will not expose anyone in your household to radiation. If you have brachytherapy, you may go home after treatment or stay in the hospital for a few days. You will need to take precautions to avoid exposing others to radiation after brachytherapy.
You may experience some side effects after a radiation therapy session. Take care of yourself and follow your provider’s instructions.
Fatigue is a common symptom during radiation oncology. Get plenty of rest.
You may feel nauseous or have diarrhea during radiation therapy. Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
Your skin will be more sensitive to the sun if you have external radiation. Wear sun-protective clothing.
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