Radiation Oncology

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Radiation oncology is provided by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute on the lower level of the Cancer Center. Radiation oncologists work in conjunction with medical oncologists and/or surgeons to develop the best treatment plan for each patient.

• Care is managed by radiation oncologists from the Brigham and Women’s Physicians Organization, who also hold appointments at Dana-Farber, South Shore Hospital, and Harvard Medical School.
• Through a state-of-the-art linear accelerator, patients receive targeted radiation to a particular part of the body, given by board-certified radiation therapists under the direction of a radiation oncologist.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays or beams to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing. Radiation treatments generally last only a few minutes and are given every day for several weeks.