Briefs
Brachytherapy for
Prostate Cancer Patients
Brachytherapy is one type of treatment
for prostate cancer. During
this procedure, radiation is delivered
to the prostate by inserting small,
rice-sized radioactive seeds into the
prostate.
This simple, same-day surgery usually takes about two hours. Patients can generally return to their normal daily routine within a few days. Depending on the case, patients may need only the brachytherapy implant, but some may also require external radiation.
Dr. Aggarwal will soon be working with local urologists to provide the implants at both Prince William Hospital and Fauquier Hospital.
PET/CT Imaging Arrives at The Cancer Center
At The Cancer Center, one of our goals is to provide patients with the latest cancer treatments and planning options. We now offer PET/CT imaging with a direct link to our radiation treatment planning computer. The Cancer Center is one of the only facilities in the area to offer this service.PET/CT imaging combines two tests—a PET (positron emission tomography) scan and a CT (computed tomography) scan—to produce images that allow doctors to more precisely pinpoint where cancers are located and how far they have spread. This lets the doctors make more accurate treatment planning decisions, allowing for more precise and effective care. We’re proud to be the first facility in Prince William County that can directly import PET/CT images to our radiation treatment planning system.
For patients with head and neck cancers, PET/CT imaging can be especially helpful. Head and neck cancers tend to be challenging to treat with radiation, and PET/CT imaging helps improve treatment effectiveness while keeping side effects and complications to a minimum.
Real-Time Images Mean Accurate Treatment
The Cancer Center at Lake Manassas is one of only a handful of cancer centers within the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area that treats patients with on-board imaging. It’s a technique that helps improve treatment accuracy for patients needing radiation therapy. Here’s how it works:- High-resolution 3-D images of the treatment area are taken immediately before each daily treatment. This technique, known as image-guided radiation therapy, helps track changes in the position of the tumor or cancerous area in the patient’s body.
- The new images are compared with images from the patient’s original treatment plan.
- Depending on the changes that the images show, the patient’s position on the treatment table is adjusted so that the radiation can be delivered more directly to the treatment area.
