Radiation Oncology Services
Gopal Desai, MD - Chair
Radiation Oncology
The Radiation Oncology Center at Saint Peter's University Hospital is one of the
most respected in New Jersey. Our experts provide advanced cancer therapy and compassionate
patient care in close collaboration with pathologists, oncologists, surgeons and
other cancer specialists.
Today, the focus in radiation therapy is to treat tumors effectively and safely
while minimizing radiation to critical organs and nearby healthy tissue. To that
end, Saint Peter's offers coblation, a new procedure to treat cancerous tumors that
have caused spinal fractures. Coblation spares patients major spinal surgery, generally
reduces pain in three days and may decrease the risk of complications.
Saint Peter's radiation oncology services include:
- External beam radiation therapy, including 3-D conformal radiation therapy and intensity-modulated
radiation therapy (IMRT), a sophisticated planning system and external treatment
that allows precise and safe delivery of radiation to the tumor.
- High-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy, a type of internal radiation that is used alone
or with other treatments, including external beam radiation. We also have the MammoSite®
Radiation Therapy System, a type of HDR brachytherapy for the treatment of breast
cancer.
- Low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy, an inpatient procedure in which radioactive sources
are placed internally near the tumor to continuously deliver low doses of radiation
over a period of time.
- Ultrasound-guided prostate seed implantation as an option in treating prostate cancer.
The radiation oncologist and urologist work together to implant tiny radioactive
seeds into the prostate gland.