Services
Mercy Cancer Center
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) is a new form of highly precise radiation therapy that targets cancer cells with high doses of radiation while minimizing the exposure of nearby healthy tissue. With IMRT, radiation oncologists can divide each treatment field into hundreds of small segments. Using a multi leaf collimator to shape the radiation beam and control exposure times, the physician can control the intensity of the radiation beam within a given area, delivering a different dose to each segment. In this way, the dose to the tumor can be either escalated (taken higher) or it can be reduced wherever healthy critical structures are in the beam's path. This enables clinicians to use radiation to treat areas that would once have been considered too risky, including tumors very close to or wrapped around critical organs. For example, in the case of prostate cancer, the bladder or rectum can be protected. The end result is better tumor control, less damage to healthy tissues and structures in the treatment area and a resulting better quality of life for the patient.
IMRT has been used at Mercy Cancer Center in the treatment of prostate cancer since June 1, 2003 as part of its radiation therapy treatment planning and delivery technology.