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Treatment Options

Treatment Options

Ackerman Cancer Center provides the most effective, evidence-based radiation therapies available, including proton therapy, to treat all cancers. Every cancer diagnosis is unique, and every treatment plan is personalized to give patients the best chance of a cure and quality of life. We are unique and all modalities of radiation are available at Ackerman Cancer Center.

Call us at 904-880-5522 to connect with our registered nurse, receive answers to your questions, and schedule a consultation to discuss how we can quickly get you on the path to treatment.

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Proton Therapy

Protons are sub-atomic particles that move quickly through healthy tissue, depositing cancer-destroying radiation at the tumor site. Proton therapy is the most precise, advanced radiation treatment modalities available.

In conventional radiation, x-ray beams travel through the body and cause damage to the surrounding normal tissue while destroying the tumor. Proton therapy efficiently utilizes charged particles (protons) to penetrate the same tissue and deposit nearly all of their energy directly at the tumor site, thereby reducing the risk of damage to surrounding areas.

Proton therapy can be offered alone, or in conjunction with other cancer treatments. To find out if proton therapy is right for you, click here or call us at 904-880-5522.

Conventional Radiation Modalities

Conventional radiation uses energy particles called photons, instead of protons, to deliver radiation to the tumor site. Ackerman Cancer Center uses many delivery methods and treatment techniques to tailor each treatment plan to best treat the patient’s unique cancer.

  • 3-D External Beam Radiation

    3-D External Beam Radiation, also known as 3-D Conformal Radiation Therapy, is a technique that delivers radiation to a tumor site. Imaging scans and special computers map the location of the tumor in three dimensions. During treatment, several beams deliver radiation matched to the shape of the tumor.

  • Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI)

    APBI is a form of internal radiation therapy, also known as brachytherapy. For this treatment, surgeons insert a catheter into the cavity that remains after a lumpectomy procedure. A radioactive source is then inserted into the catheter to deliver radiation to the lumpectomy site, killing any breast cancer cells that may remain.

  • AccuBoost®

    AccuBoost® is often used in conjunction with breast conservation therapy. This breast radiotherapy uses real-time mammogram technology to pinpoint the lumpectomy site. The treatment delivers a high, or “boost,” dose of radiation directly to the tumor cavity margin, while protecting the surrounding healthy tissue from unnecessary radiation.

  • Brachytherapy

    Brachytherapy is a type of internal radiation therapy that delivers a higher dose of radiation directly to the tumor, the area near it, or the site following tumor removal. This approach helps protect surrounding healthy tissue. Ackerman Cancer Center performs brachytherapy treatments such as prostate seed implants, APBI, and Valencia® for skin cancer.

  • Electron Beam Radiation Therapy

    Electron Radiotherapy is a form of external beam radiation that delivers electrons to the tumor site using the Elekta Medical Linear Accelerator.

  • Elekta™ Medical Linear Accelerators

    The linear accelerator delivers radiation treatment with either photons or electrons to better target the cancer and avoid damaging surrounding healthy tissue, which can occur with too high a dose of radiation. Ackerman Cancer Center uses advanced monitoring technology, such as C-RAD Sentinel™, Cone Beam Computerized Tomography, Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy®, and TheraView™, to enhance the accuracy of radiation treatments.

  • Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) and Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)

    IMRT uses beams of radiation from multiple angles, and of varying intensities, to conform to the shape of the tumor. IGRT utilizes 3-D images to monitor the tumor’s exact location during treatment. These technologies work together to reduce exposure to healthy tissues and minimize side effects of treatment.

  • Radioisotope Therapy

    Radioactive Isotope (Radioisotope) Therapy is a targeted form of systemic therapy, in which the radioisotopes are delivered directly to the bloodstream intravenously or ingested in the form of a pill.

    Forms of Radioactive Isotope Therapy available at Ackerman Cancer Center include iodine-131, Xofigo, Strontium 90, and Samarium 153.

  • Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR) / Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)

    SABR, also known as Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), is a highly focused radiation treatment that gives an intense dose of radiation concentrated on a tumor, while limiting the dose to the surrounding organs. This modality is prescribed to patients for whom surgery may not be an option.

  • Stereotactic Radiosurgery

    Stereotactic Radiosurgery is a nonsurgical, highly precise form of radiation therapy that reaches tumors deep inside the body without the risks of traditional surgery. Ackerman Cancer Center utilizes GammaKnife® to help reduce radiation exposure to healthy tissue, which is especially important for areas like the brain and lungs.

  • Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT)

    VMAT is a technique that precisely delivers radiation therapy to tumors. Single or multiple beams sweep in an uninterrupted arc(s) around the patient, while our expert radiation oncologists utilize 3-D imaging to monitor the tumor during treatment. This method reduces exposure to healthy tissues while increasing the radiation dose to the tumor.

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