Radiation Oncology

The Deaconess Hospital Radiation Oncology department is staffed by John R. Taylor, MD; W.C. Goad, MD; and Elaine Nordhues, MD, all of whom are ABR board-certified in radiation oncology. The department specializes in treatment of various types of cancer utilizing external-beam radiation and/or interstitial brachytherapy.

Radiation therapy is a medical procedure using radiation through X-rays and electrons to slow, stop and destroy diseases such as cancer. It can be used before surgery to shrink and sterilize tumors, or after surgery to destroy remaining malignant cells. It can also destroy some tumors that can't be reached by surgery.

Radiation is used in three ways as a cancer treatment:

• As a sole curative modality
• In combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy
• As a means of palliation to relieve symptoms

Treatment planning for each individual patient is an important part of the radiation-therapy process and begins with a simulation in which radiographs are obtained and treatment parameters are initially defined. Deaconess radiation oncology also offers three-dimensional treatment planning, allowing the physician and staff to work closely together and produce a treatment plan optimal to each patient's tumor and body contour. This technique ensures optimal dosage-to-tumor volume while sparing normal healthy tissues that may surround the tumor. This allows for fewer side effects than conventional two-dimensional radiation therapy.

The Cancer Center also offers brachytherapy. Dr. John R. Taylor has become well know in the field of prostate brachytherapy, a highly effective, non-surgical outpatient procedure for localized treatment of early stage prostate cancer. This is a special procedure implanting radioactive seeds into the prostate gland. Brachytherapy has achieved comparable survival rates to prostatectomy or external-beam radiation therapy, with fewer side effects. Dr. Taylor has completed over 870 cases and uses the newest and most up-to-date treatment planning, and implantation technique.

Deaconess also offers state-of-the-art fiber optic nasopharyngoscope to patients with head and neck cancers.

Deaconess' radiation-oncology staff takes pride in its technical knowledge as well as its reputation for Christian compassion to all patients.