Radiation Oncology in Florida

Sophisticated Technology and Treatment Planning

Treatment planning allows care givers to virtually test different approaches and to customize radiation therapy specifically for each patient's tumor.

Mayo Clinic's extensive treatment-planning process allows radiation treatments to be tailored to each patient's needs. Treatment planning usually begins with a skin-marking session called a simulation. This is often followed by a computerized tomographic (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to help define the tumor's size and location and to properly identify surrounding normal tissues.

Mayo Clinic's radiation therapy staff uses state-of-the-art simulators to help plan treatment. Simulators are special diagnostic X-ray machines that duplicate the geometry of radiation treatment. They help precisely define the area to be penetrated with radiation before the actual treatment is applied.

After the radiation oncologist identifies the areas to be treated, physicists and dosimetrists use two-dimensional or three-dimensional treatment-planning systems to localize the radiation to the cancerous tumors and minimize the dose of radiation to normal tissues.

Radiation therapists use linear accelerators to safely deliver radiation treatments. Linear accelerators are X-ray machines that emit high dosages of radiation to a specific location while sparing normal tissues.

Stereotactic radiosurgery is a specialized form of radiation treatment available at Mayo Clinic to treat cancerous brain lesions.

Support Services and Education

Patient support and education about cancer are vital to a successful treatment plan. Patients who choose Mayo Clinic as their caregiver also receive access to support services and educational classes.

Weekly support groups help patients cope with their disease. For patients outside the region, we help locate groups close to home. Social workers offer counseling and emotional support for managing cancer. They also help identify resources available in your community. Nurses are available for individual consultation to discuss care, provide emotional support and help physicians manage the side effects of radiation treatment. Nutrition classes provide patients with information on how to counteract side effects during treatment.