sive outpatient procedure called image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT). During treatment, the ExacTrac system pinpoints tumors with a high-resolution, low-dose X-ray beam and automatically tracks patient movement throughout treatment with an infrared optical tracking system. These tracking capabilities allow radiation doses to be delivered with extreme precision, minimizing radiation exposure to healthy tissue surrounding a tumor. “Our facility offers patients multiple advanced radiation therapy options, greatly benefiting residents of Luzerne County who otherwise might have traveled to larger metropolitan areas for the services we provide,� said Laura Sitch, site manager for the center. In addition to IGRT, Cancer Treatment Center at Hazleton offers several other advanced treatment options for patients seeking quality care close to home. Treatment services include external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT), 3-D conformal therapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and brachytherapy. Patients treated with EBRT receive a certain number of daily radiation treatments over a period of seven to eight weeks. Treatments are outpatient procedures that usually take about 15 minutes each. IMRT, another type of three-dimensional radiation therapy in which beams of varying intensity are aimed at a tumor from different angles, allows doctors to customize the radiation beams delivered to individual patients, resulting in improved targeting when compared to conventional radiation. Brachytherapy is an alternative to surgical removal of the prostate gland for men with prostate cancer. During this procedure, a physician inserts small radioactive seeds into the prostate gland with a needle guided by an ultrasound device. Patients who undergo brachytherapy are usually allowed to return home on the same day. Brachytherapy has been shown to provide excellent long-term success rates with minimal side effects while offering a non-surgical option for prostate cancer patients. Accredited by the American College of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Treatment Center at Hazleton adheres to rigorous clinical and safety criteria, ensuring firm standards for quality care and patient safety. Cancer Treatment Center at Hazleton offers free, off-street parking, as well as resources and support for patients and their families. For more information, call (570) 459-3460 or visit www.cancertreatmentcenterhazleton.com. P
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