The Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) and the Comprehensive Cancer Center are internationally recognized as a center of excellence within the field of Radiation Oncology. The physicians are full-time faculty members of the University of Colorado School of Medicine who provide state-of-the-art cancer care to patients treated in the Radiation Oncology Clinic. Among the featured services provided are the following special programs:
Low dose-rate and High dose-rate Prostate Brachytherapy - Patients with prostate cancer often have a variety of choices for treatment including surgery (prostatectomy), external beam radiation therapy (for example IMRT with IGRT), and brachytherapy (the placement of radioactive seeds within the prostate gland). Patients with prostate cancer who are evaluated in the Radiation Oncology Clinic are all discussed at the weekly multidisciplinary Urologic Cancer Conference, where a team of radiation oncologists, urologists, pathologists, diagnostic radiologists and medical oncologists discuss each case and arrive at a consensus recommendation of the best treatment options or combination treatment option for each case. The UCD Radiation Oncology Department is equipped to provide a complete range of services for patients with prostate cancer including IMRT, IGRT, and brachytherapy.
Brachytherapy can be done in two ways. Low dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy involves the placement of numerous individual radioactive seeds that are permanently implanted within the prostate. The procedure is done in an operating room and takes 1-2 hours. Patients can expect to go home the same day. LDR brachytherapy can be the complete treatment given to certain early stage prostate cancer patients. High dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy involves the placement of catheters (thin plastic tubes) into the prostate followed by the temporary placement of radioactive material into the catheters. The catheters are removed immediately after the treatment is complete. HDR brachytherapy is usually performed as a boost in conjunction with a shortened course of external beam for selected patients with advanced prostate cancer. The UCD radiation oncology team has extensive experience in the successful application of both LDR and HDR brachytherapy for prostate cancer.
Accelerated partial breast irradiation - Many patients with early stage breast cancer can be treated with a breast-preserving approach that involves a lumpectomy (removal of the breast tumor itself but not the entire breast) and radiotherapy given to the breast to eliminate and remaining cancer cells there. All patients with breast cancer who are evaluated in the Radiation Oncology Clinic are all discussed at the weekly multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Conference, where a team of radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, pathologists, diagnostic radiologists and medical oncologists discuss each case and arrive at a consensus recommendation of the best treatment combination in each case.
Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) is a novel treatment strategy whereby some patients with early stage breast cancer can enjoy breast preservation and a course of radiotherapy that is completed within only one week, as opposed to the traditional course of breast radiotherapy that stretches over 6 to 6 1/2 weeks. APBI can be accomplished using either external beam radiotherapy or a form of brachytherapy. The UCH Radiation Oncology team includes national leaders in the development of APBI.
Complex Gynecologic Cancer Treatment Including All Brachytherapy Modalities - University of Colorado is a national leader in gynecologic cancer treatment and brachytherapy based on case volume and complexity. We have outstanding local control outcomes and patient cure rates, treating patients from across Colorado and the Mountain West. This includes intracavitary brachytherapy for cervical and endometrial cancers, as well as freehand and template based interstitial brachytherapy for all complex gynecologic cancers, including cervical, vaginal, uterine, ovarian and vulvar cancers. We also offer innovative external beam treatment for gynecologic cancers, including novel applications of radiation in ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancers. The gynecologic cancer team writes national guidelines for patient care, review cases for other institutions, and present cases through gynecologic multidisciplinary tumor board to maximize options for all stages of disease, including clinical trial participation.