Radiation Oncology



Radiation therapy, used alone or in combination with surgery and chemotherapy, remains an integral component in the successful management and treatment of pediatric tumors.

The ramifications of treatment in children are magnified by the potential years gained or lost due to both tumor and treatment. When radiation therapy is given to a child, every effort must be made to reduce or eliminate side effects without compromising the effectiveness of the treatment.

Maximizing cure while minimizing treatment complications is central to all cancer therapy and relates to both the practices of pediatric radiotherapy and pediatric cancer research. We have developed new radiation therapy delivery techniques to help achieve these goals.

The Radiation Oncology Department at St. Jude continues to be innovative and set the standard in patient evaluation and management as well as technical delivery of radiotherapy. New techniques include new stereotactic methods of patient immobilization, and the development of computer technology that permits the delivery of 3-dimensional conformal and intensity-modulated radiation therapy, as well as rapid, fully automated multifield treatment.

We are committed to improving the cure rate for childhood tumors and limiting the consequences of treatment so that survivors can lead full, productive lives. We also are committed to providing objective evidence that our technologic advances lead to a reduction in side effects. St. Jude’s active clinical programs involving doctors from many disciplines are responsible for excellent patient care and also foster innovative research that will continue to improve the outlook for all children with brain tumors.

 

 


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