Health Matters | spring 2009

New Radiation Therapy

Improves Accuracy, Reduces Side Effects

Dr. Brad Factor,
radiation oncologist

Experts at Halifax Health have a new tool for treating cancer: stereotactic body radiation therapy, or SBRT. This advanced technology delivers radiation with greater accuracy and fewer side effects.

SBRT delivers extremely high doses of radiation over a short period of time. Imaging technology helps guide the radiation to the exact location of the tumor. This precision helps spare nearby healthy tissue from radiation exposure. It also helps doctors target inoperable cancers and those in hard-to-reach areas.

“Halifax Health is proud to offer this new technology,” said Brad Factor, MD, radiation oncologist at Halifax Health. “Preliminary outcomes have been encouraging.”

Patient Benefits

SBRT is a noninvasive, nonsurgical treatment, making it a gentler option for people with cancer. Other patient benefits include:
  • Minimal side effects
  • A small number of treatments
  • No hospital stay
At Halifax Health, SBRT treatment involves a team of experts, including radiologists, medical physicists, dosimetrists, radiation therapists, radiation oncologists, surgical specialists such as neurosurgeons, and nurses.

“We’ve used SBRT to treat lung tumors, liver tumors and tumors near the spinal cord,” Dr. Factor said.

SBRT also may be used to treat tumors in the:

  • Pancreas
  • Adrenal gland
  • Kidneys
  • Head and neck
  • Prostate
“SBRT is not for everyone,” said Dr. Factor, “but we encourage patients to contact us to see if this treatment may be the right choice for them or for a loved one.”