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Radiation Therapy

The Regional Cancer Center at Mary Washington Healthcare boasts a world-class radiation oncology program led by board-certified radiation oncologists. In addition to Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) , the most advanced radiation treatment available, patients and physicians throughout the region find the correct level of treatment at the MWHC Regional Cancer Center.

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Comprehensive Cancer Care, Close to Home...

Two Convenient Locations in Fredericksburg and Stafford

Mary Washington Hospital Radiation Oncology
1300 Hospital Drive, Suite 101
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
540.741.0655

Mary Washington Hospital Radiation Oncology is located in a dedicated Cancer Services building on the Mary Washington Hospital Medical Campus.

We offer the groundbreaking Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS), a safe alternative to open surgery with little to no recovery time. One of the most recent major medical advances in fighting cancer, SRS has revolutionized brain and lung cancer treatments.

Regional Cancer Center at Stafford Hospital
125 Hospital Drive, Suite 125
Stafford, VA 22554
540.741.7955

Cancer patients in the Stafford area have convenient access to state-of-the-art cancer services. The Mary Washington Regional Cancer Center at Stafford Medical Pavilion offers the region’s most advanced radiation oncology treatment supervised by highly specialized, board-certified physicians and clinicians. Both convenient and close to home; in many cases, complete cancer treatments can be administered in a little as 15 minutes.

RapidArc Technology

The Varian RapidArc linear accelerator is a powerful new linear accelerator that is capable of delivering radiation at a faster dose rate with highly precise targeting. Significant benefits to patients include:

  • Treatments delivered 2 – 8 times faster
  • An even greater degree of protection from radiation exposure for healthy surrounding tissues
  • During treatment, a sculpted, tightly focused beam of radiation is directed in a 360° rotation around the tumor within minutes
  • Enables more effective treatment of tumors in locations that were previously difficult to treat

Individualized Services and Compassionate Care

We’re with you every step of your cancer care journey, from diagnosis, through treatment and recovery, and into survivorship. With a variety of services and treatment options available, we’re here for you:

  • Latest diagnostic and imaging technology
  • Nurse Navigators helping you to maneuver through the treatment process
  • Advanced treatment methods with the newest available surgical and therapeutic options
  • Novel and integrative therapies to assist with healing
  • Survivorship support through specialized cancer rehab program

Advanced Radiation Therapy

Like our locations in Fredericksburg and Stafford, the Regional Cancer Center at Montross offers leading-edge technology and clinical expertise. The newly–installed Varian 2100 iX linear accelerator includes on-board imaging and cone beam CT, that allows for precise external beam radiation therapy to treat many tumor types in various locations.

Radiation Therapy at the Regional Cancer Center

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill or shrink cancer cells, and to decrease their ability to divide. The MWHC Regional Cancer Center uses various radiation treatments to find the best plan of care for the patient. We provide:

What Are the Types of Radiation Therapy?

There are generally two types of radiation therapy:

  • External radiation (external beam therapy) - a treatment that precisely sends high levels of radiation directly to the cancer cells. The machine is controlled by the radiation therapist. Since radiation is used to kill cancer cells, special shields may be used to protect the tissue surrounding the treatment area. Radiation treatments are similar to getting X-rays - they are painless and usually last a few minutes. This type of radiation therapy may be given daily for several weeks.
  • Internal radiation (brachytherapy) - a procedure that uses small, radioactive seeds (each about the size of a grain of rice) that are implanted directly into the cancerous prostate tumor. The implanted seeds may be left in permanently or may be only temporary. The seeds emit small amounts of radiation for a period of weeks or months.

What to expect with radiation therapy:

A radiation oncologist will plan your radiation treatment based on your medical history, a physical examination, pathology and laboratory reports, and previous mammograms and surgeries. Your chest area will be marked with ink that must stay on your skin for the course of your treatments. These markings assure that the radiation will be given to the exact area requiring treatment.

Radiation treatment is like having a standard x-ray, but the radiation is stronger. The treatment lasts only a few minutes and is painless. A typical course of radiation treatment of this type is treatment for five days per week over a six-week period. If chemotherapy is also to be given, radiation treatment may not be given until after chemotherapy has been completed.

To speak to one our specially trained Cancer Nurse Navigators with questions of for more information, please call 540.741.1211.

Patient Forms

Insurance Release Form for Radiation Oncology Specialists of Central VA

Consent to Disclose Health Information (Consentimiento para divulgar la información de salud)

General Consent for Treatment/Guaranty of Payment (Acuerdo general para tratamiento/Garantía de pago)

Physician List

Form for Medicare patients only (Cuestionario solo para pacientes de Medicare)

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