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At Radiation Oncology Centers of Ventura County, we offer3D conformal radiation therapy as a precise and carefully planned treatment option for many types of cancer. Using detailed imaging and advanced treatment planning, this approach allows radiation to be shaped around the exact size and form of the tumor. That means we can treat the cancer more accurately while helping reduce exposure to nearby healthy tissue. Every treatment plan here is tailored to the individual, based on the location, shape, and needs of the tumor. Our focus is to provide treatment that feels thoughtful, controlled, and centered around both effectiveness and patient comfort.
3-D CRT combines digital diagnostic imaging, powerful computers and specialized software to conform the radiation beam to the shape of the tumor. It’s used to treat cancers in most parts of the body, and most commonly for prostate cancer, lung cancer and certain brain tumors.
Treatment planning begins with CT or MR images that show the anatomy of the tumor and surrounding normal structures. The images are put into a special treatment-planning computer that produces an accurate 3-dimensional image of the tumor and surrounding organs. Multiple radiation beams can be aimed at the tumor from different directions, matching the contour of the treatment area. The plan is made to deliver a prescribed dose across all three dimensions (height, width and depth) of the tumor and spreads the dose around the surrounding areas, sparing nearby healthy tissue.
This process is guided by 3D conformal radiation therapy specialists at our center in Ventura County, CA, who use advanced planning systems to ensure accuracy at every stage. Dosimetrists use the computer to model the effect of a predetermined treatment on a patient, selecting various beam angles and intensity and observing the virtual outcome before prescribing the appropriate dosage.
Radiation therapy usually is given five days a week for six or seven weeks. The total radiation dose and number of treatments varies with each patient and depends on the size, location and type of tumor, as well as the patient’s general health and other medical treatments he or she is receiving. The benefits of 3D conformal radiation therapy for cancer treatment include the ability to deliver radiation that closely matches the shape of the tumor, helping to reduce exposure to surrounding healthy tissue while maintaining consistent and effective dose delivery.
