Our Services
Cancer Services
What is Medical Oncology?
Medical oncology is a subspecialty of internal medicine that specializes in
the treatment of cancer with chemotherapy, biologic therapy or hormonal treatment.
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs (via intravenous injections, oral medications,
topical treatments, and a number of other deliveries) to treat cancer. These
anti-cancer drugs destroy cancer cells by stopping them from growing or multiplying
at one or more points in their life cycle. Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment
acting on the entire body as it travels through the bloodstream.
What is Radiation Oncology?
Radiation oncology is the medical use of precisely focused beams
of high-energy radiation that destroy abnormal cells while preserving
the normal surrounding tissue. Therefore, the side effects of radiation
treatment are strictly limited to those tissues that are actually
being treated. Dividing a large total dose of radiation into smaller
daily doses delivered over several weeks minimizes side effects.
State-of-the-art equipment at Davis Memorial Hospital's Cancer Care Center
includes a linear accelerator for external beam irradiation. The precision
of this equipment helps to minimize side effects and maximize potency of
each treatment. Other technologies include a computerized therapy planning
system that allows planning for the unique contours of the patient and
their tumor, and a block cutting system for the manufacture of customized
shields to protect healthy tissue.
For
more information, call (304) 637-3640.