Radiation Oncology

Cancer cells have the ability to grow, multiply and spread quickly, it is important to find the right therapy to slow, then destroy, these cells. Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill or shrink cancer cells and reduce their growth rate. When cancer is localized in one part of the body, such as a tumor, radiation therapy is often the best choice because it delivers ionizing radiation directly and precisely into the cancerous cells without harming other, healthy cells.

There are various types of radiation therapies and many treatment outcomes. Radiation can be used to reduce the size of the tumor and to provide relief from painful malignancies. Your oncologist may also prescribe radiation after surgery to remove a malignancy in an effort to prevent cancer from recurring or use radiation treatments in combination with other types of therapies.

Once our oncologists have fully considered your particular cancer and determined that radiation therapy is the best option for you, your doctor will sit with you and explain what we hope to accomplish by having you undergo treatment. We encourage you to ask questions during this time so that you know what to expect during and after your treatment.

Cancer Technology

At Big Horn Basin Regional Cancer Center, we are committed to ensuring that you have access to the latest cancer-fighting technologies without ever having to leave the Basin.

We offer the most technologically advanced linear accelerator, the Elekta Infinity, available in Northern Wyoming. Linear accelerators deliver external beam radiation to any part or organ of the body; the high-energy x-rays destroy the cancer cells while sparing the surrounding normal tissue.

Using the Elekta system, our clinicians are able to “shrinkwrap” the treatment around your tumor by manipulating the location, strength, direction, and speed of the x-ray beams. They also use two and three-dimensional imaging to deliver these beams directly to the tumor’s precise location within your body.

This technology now provides more targeted, less invasive procedures – meaning your treatment sessions are shorter and more effective than ever before. Compared to similar treatments requiring 30 to 90 minutes, the Elekta requires just five to 20 minutes. It even eliminates the need for pre-treatment appointments because the location of the tumor is determined at the same time as treatment.

At Big Horn Basin Regional Cancer Center, we are proud to offer you the same cancer-fighting technology you would receive in Denver or Salt Lake City – right here in Cody. To learn more, call our office at 307.578.2140.