Gastrointestinal Cancers
Gastrointestinal cancers include esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, liver cancer, and gallbladder cancer. Radiation therapy for gastrointestinal cancers is normally given with IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy).
Pancreatic Cancer
According to the National Cancer Institute, pancreatic cancer is the 11th most common cancer in the United States and is an aggressive form of cancer. The risk of developing pancreatic cancer increases with age, according to the NCI, and 89% of all new diagnoses are individuals age 55 and older. Risk factors include smoking, obesity, diabetes, and a family history of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is often used in combination with chemotherapy, either before surgery (neoadjuvant therapy) to help shrink tumors and improve the chances of successful surgical removal, or after surgery (adjuvant therapy) to destroy any remaining cancer cells and reduce the risk of recurrence. In cases where surgery is not an option, radiation may also be used as part of palliative care to relieve symptoms such as pain or digestive issues caused by tumor growth. Techniques such as stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) allow for the delivery of high doses of radiation with precision, minimizing damage to nearby healthy tissue.
Stomach Cancer
Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, is rare and is the 15th most common cancer in the United States. Risk factors include smoking, obesity, and a high diet of salt and processed foods. Surgery is often the primary treatment for stomach cancer, followed by chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy in some cases. Radiation therapy can be employed before surgery (neoadjuvant therapy) to shrink tumors, making them easier to remove, or after surgery (adjuvant therapy) to eliminate any remaining cancer cells and reduce the risk of recurrence. For patients with more advanced or inoperable stomach cancer, radiation therapy may also be used to alleviate symptoms such as pain, bleeding, or difficulty swallowing.
Liver Cancer
Liver cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and affects men three times more often than women. Because all blood in the body passes through the liver for filtration, most liver cancer is secondary or metastatic, meaning it started elsewhere in the body. Risk factors for primary liver cancer include heavy alcohol use, drug use, smoking, obesity, and diabetes. Liver cancer treatment options include partial hepatectomy (removal of tumors in the liver), liver transplant, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. While radiation was historically limited in liver cancer due to the liver’s sensitivity to radiation, advances in technology have made it a more viable option. Techniques like stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) allow doctors to deliver high doses of radiation with extreme precision, targeting cancer cells while sparing healthy liver tissue. Radiation therapy may be used when surgery isn’t possible or in combination with other treatments to control tumor growth, relieve pain, or reduce the size of tumors before other procedures. In some cases, it can also be used as palliative care to improve quality of life in advanced stages of the disease.
Gallbladder Cancer
Gallbladder cancer is rare in the United States, difficult to diagnose, and occurs 3 to 4 times more often in women than men. Gallstones are the most common risk factor for gallbladder cancer; however, gallstones are very common, and most people with gallstones never develop gallbladder cancer. Gallbladder cancer treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Surgery is often the preferred approach when the cancer is detected early and confined to the gallbladder. Radiation therapy, often combined with chemotherapy, may be used after surgery to destroy remaining cancer cells and reduce the risk of recurrence. It can also be used before surgery in select cases to shrink tumors and improve surgical outcomes. For patients with advanced or inoperable gallbladder cancer, radiation therapy may serve as a palliative treatment to relieve symptoms such as pain, jaundice, or digestive obstruction.
Urinary Tract Cancers
Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer is the sixth most common form of cancer and is three-times more common in men than in women and two times more common in Caucasians than in African Americans. 90% of those diagnosed with bladder cancer are over 55 years old. Bladder cancers are treated with surgery, plus or minus chemotherapy with or without radiation, IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy). Radiation therapy may be used in several ways depending on the stage and severity of the cancer. For patients who are not candidates for surgery or prefer to avoid removal of the bladder, radiation therapy combined with chemotherapy can be used as part of a bladder-sparing approach. This method aims to destroy cancer cells while preserving bladder function. Radiation may also be used after surgery to target any remaining cancer cells or reduce the risk of recurrence. In some cases, it serves a palliative role to ease symptoms such as pain or bleeding caused by advanced tumors.
Kidney Cancer
Kidney cancer, also known as renal cell carcinoma, is the eighth most common cancer diagnosed in the United States. Risk factors include obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, kidney dialysis, and a family history of kidney disease. Surgery, full or partial nephrectomy, is the primary treatment option plus or minus chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or radiation. Radiation therapy for kidney cancer is normally given with IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy). While radiation therapy is not typically the first-line treatment for kidney cancer due to the kidney’s relative resistance to radiation and the effectiveness of surgery, it plays an important role in certain scenarios. For patients who are not surgical candidates, due to age, other medical conditions, or tumor location, radiation therapy may be considered as an alternative option to control tumor growth. Additionally, radiation is often used to treat metastatic kidney cancer, particularly when the cancer has spread to the bones, brain, or other organs. In these cases, radiation therapy is used to relieve pain and other symptoms, improving quality of life.
