Radiation Oncology

Radiation therapy is often the primary treatment to kill the cancer, or it can be used to prevent the return of cancer following primary surgical therapy or chemotherapy. It can be used to treat many kinds of cancer in almost any part of the body. In fact, more than half of all people with cancer are treated with some form of radiation. For many cancer patients, radiation is the only kind of treatment they need.  

There are two main types of radiation therapy: 

• External - radiation is delivered by a machine from outside the body
• Internal - radioactive materials are placed in the body near the cancer cells; also called implant radiation or brachytherapy

Like surgery, radiation therapy is a local treatment – it affects the cancer cells only in a specific area of the body. Sometimes oncologists add radiation therapy to treatments that reach all parts of the body, such as chemotherapy, to improve treatment results.  

The brief high doses of radiation that damage or destroy cancer cells can also injure or kill normal cells. These effects of radiation on normal cells cause treatment side effects. Most side effects of radiation treatment are well known and, with the help of your doctor and nurse, easily treated. The risk of side effects is usually less than the benefit of killing cancer cells.  

For more information on radiation therapy, visit the National Cancer Institute's guide Radiation Therapy and You: A Guide to Self-Help During Cancer Treatment.

To find an Evergreen-affiliated radiation oncologist whose specialty, location and insurance meet your needs:

1. Call the Evergreen Healthline (425.899.3000) and press “1” to speak with a referral coordinator.
2. Search our online database of physicians affiliated with Evergreen.