Faculty & Staff

Breast Cancer

The breast team treats all types and stages of breast cancer, including ductal carcinoma in situ and inflammatory breast cancer, as well as recurrent and metastatic breast cancers. Treatments include intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), brachytherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery when appropriate.

Central Nervous System Tumors

The CNS radiation oncology team specializes in treatment of all central nervous system tumors, both primary and metastatic. They work with neuro-oncologists, neurosurgeons, diagnostic neuro-radiologists, neuro-pathologists, radiation physicists and nurses who are experts in treating brain tumors and spinal cord cancers.

Gastrointestinal

The gastrointestinal team administers pre-operative radiation therapy to improve treatment outcomes, and also manages cancer and treatment side effects, including nausea, vomiting and bowel management. Radiation therapy options include conformal intensity-modulated and proton external beam therapy, brachytherapy and intraoperative therapy to treat stomach, pancreas, colon, liver and biliary duct cancers.

Genitourinary

MD Anderson's genitourinary radiation oncologists treat prostate and kidney cancers, both as a primary treatment or in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy. Radiation therapy options for prostate cancer include external beam radiation, intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), brachytherapy and proton therapy. In selected kidney cancer patients, radiation may be used as a palliative treatment to ease pain and other symptoms of kidney cancer that has metastasized (spread).

Gynecology

The gynecologic radiation oncology team treats cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal and vulvar cancers. Radiation therapy may be administered preoperatively or postoperatively. Methods include external beam radiotherapy alone, paired with brachytherapy (radioactive implants), or combined with chemotherapy, surgery or both. Intraoperative radiation, intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) or 3-D conformal therapy may be used in selected cases.

Head & Neck Cancers

The head and neck team uses radiation treatment in critical areas that cannot be treated with surgery. Radiation therapy can control early head and neck cancers as well as surgery, and in some cases, is superior for preserving appearance and organ function. MD Anderson uses intensity modulation and dynamic multileaf collimation to shield the eyes, lips, tongue, brain and other normal tissues from unnecessary exposure.

Lymphoma & Myeloma

The lymphoma team includes three specialists in treating lymphomas and other cancers of the blood, including multiple myeloma and leukemia. External beam radiation for lymphoma and myeloma is one of several treatment options that may include watchful waiting, chemotherapy, surgery or combinations of these therapies. Radiation therapy may also be paired with chemotherapy or with bone marrow or peripheral stem cell transplantation to treat leukemia patients.

Melanoma / Sarcoma

Radiation therapy is often part of the treatment plan for sarcoma patients. Preoperative and postoperative radiation therapy is used regularly to treat soft tissue sarcomas, including malignant fibrous histiocytoma, liposarcomas and leiomyosarcomas. High-energy photons, electrons, three-dimensional conformal treatment or interstitial implants may be used.

Pediatrics

We treat all pediatric tumors that require radiation therapy, including medulloblastoma, childhood brain cancers, rhabdomyosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma. Pediatric patients may be treated with conventional radiotherapy, proton therapy, three-dimensional conformal therapy, intensity-modulated radiotherapy or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy, depending on what is appropriate for each patient. The pediatric team is also experienced in the use of total body irradiation for bone marrow or stem cell transplant.

Thoracic

Radiation therapy may be combined with surgery, chemotherapy or both to treat lung, bronchial, esophageal and thymus cancers, as well as malignant mesothelioma. Radiotherapeutic techniques, including proton therapy, three-dimensional radiotherapy, intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and endobronchial brachytherapy are designed to target tumors and spare nearby normal tissue.