HDR Brachytherapy  (hdr) is used to treat certain cancers by delivering radiation directly within the tumor or in the area where the tumor was removed.  This procedure takes place within the comfort of our office.  Since there is no overnight stay in a hospital, this typically results in less expense for our patients.    Don’t live in Tacoma?  Not a problem!   We are proud to announce we are the first in the NW Region to offer Mobile HDR Service!  What this means to you is that you can enjoy the convenience of leading edge technology in the comfort of our office closest to your home.   Ask your doctor if HDR may be a consideration for you.

“Gamma Knife differs from conventional radiation therapy because patients receive highly targeted radiation delivered to a specific focal area of the brain,” said Radiation Oncologist Randy Sorum, MD, co-medical director for the program and a practicing physician at Tacoma/Valley Radiation Oncology Centers.  “As a result, they do not experience side effects commonly associated with traditional radiation therapy.”

Gamma Knife radiosurgery treatment benefits patients with malignant and benign brain tumors, vascular malformations, trigeminal neuralgia and essential tremor. Patients respond to the treatment in just a few weeks or sometimes over several months, depending on the condition treated.

Despite the name, Gamma Knife is actually a bladeless procedure. There is no incision in the skull so the risk for complications is minimal. Gamma Knife can be an option for many patients who were previously not candidates for traditional brain surgery due to advanced age, co-existing health problems or high-risk medical illness.

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Gamma Knife Perfexion focuses 192 converging beams of high-dose Cobalt60-generated photons on a computer-mapped target.  Sophisticated, three-dimensional treatment planning provides extreme precision and makes it possible to administer a high radiation dose to the lesion without damaging surrounding healthy tissue.

During Gamma Knife therapy, patients receive local anesthesia, remain awake during the procedure and experience little, if any, discomfort. Treatment generally requires just a single session and patients usually go home the same day. Most individuals resume normal activities within 48 hours.

“We are committed to using state-of-the-art technology to provide our patients with the best treatments that can maintain or improve their quality of life,” said Neurosurgeon Peter Shin, MD, co-medical director for South Sound Gamma Knife and a practicing physician at South Sound Neurosurgery. “Gamma Knife can be an effective and non-invasive treatment option for many patients.”

South Sound Gamma Knife is a partnership between Tacoma/Valley Radiation Oncology Centers and St. Joseph Medical Center, part of Franciscan Health System. The experienced team of neurosurgeons and radiation oncologists at South Sound Gamma Knife has performed more than 440 procedures since opening in late 2005.

Gamma Knife therapy is a benefit of most medical insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid. For more information call 253-284-2438 or visit www.SouthSoundGammaKnife.com.

About Tacoma/Valley Radiation Oncology Centers

Tacoma/Valley Radiation Oncology Centers is an independent group of board-certified radiation oncologists providing expert, compassionate cancer care throughout the South Puget Sound region for more than 30 years. Initially formed in 1979 as Tacoma Radiation Center, today the Centers offer five locations for patient convenience:  Jackson Hall Medical Building and St. Joseph Medical Pavilion in Tacoma, the Dr. Richard C. Ostensen Cancer Center on the Good Samaritan campus in Puyallup, in affiliation with Capital Radiation Therapy in Olympia, and in the new Jane Thompson Russell Cancer Care Center on the St. Anthony Hospital campus in Gig Harbor. Tacoma/Valley Radiation Oncology Centers is also a founding member/owner of the South Sound Prostate & Brachytherapy Institute, LLC. For more information about Tacoma/Valley Radiation Oncology Centers, visit www.TacomaRadiation.com.

Talk to your physician to see if mobile HDR could be a good choice for you!

Hosted by South Sound Gamma Knife, the evening of education and discussion will include surgical and non-surgical treatment options for neuropathic facial pain, as well as current research, presented by Dr. Sorum, Neurosurgeon Peter Shin, MD, MS, and Alyssa Zemanek. Those with neuropathic facial pain, including trigeminal neuralgia and other facial pain conditions, and their support persons, are invited to attend. Refreshments will be served at 5:30 p.m.; the program will start at 6 p.m. Space is limited and reservations are required.  To register, call (888) 825-3227 toll-free or visit www.FHShealth.org/classes.

About Trigeminal Neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a neurological disorder that causes sudden and agonizing, lightning-like attacks of pain, usually on one side of the face. These episodes of excruciating pain last from a few seconds to as long as two minutes. The presumed cause of TN is a blood vessel pressing on the trigeminal nerve in the head as it exits the

brainstem. The condition may be part of the normal aging process, but in some cases it is associated with another disorder, such as multiple sclerosis, characterized by damage to the myelin sheath that covers certain nerves.

An estimated one in 15,000 people suffers from trigeminal neuralgia, although the number may be significantly higher due to frequent misdiagnosis of the condition. More information is available online at www.endthepain.org.

About Tacoma/Valley Radiation Oncology Centers

Tacoma/Valley Radiation Oncology Centers is an independent group of board-certified radiation oncologists providing expert, compassionate cancer care throughout the South Puget Sound region for more than 30 years. Initially formed in 1979 as Tacoma Radiation Center, today the Centers offer five locations for patient convenience:  Jackson Hall Medical Building and St. Joseph Medical Pavilion in Tacoma, the Dr. Richard C. Ostensen Cancer Center on the Good Samaritan campus in Puyallup, in affiliation with Capital Radiation Therapy in Olympia, and in the new Jane Thompson Russell Cancer Care Center on the St. Anthony Hospital campus in Gig Harbor. Tacoma/Valley Radiation Oncology Centers is also a founding member/owner of the South Sound Prostate & Brachytherapy Institute, LLC. For more information about Tacoma/Valley Radiation Oncology Centers, visit www.TacomaRadiation.com.

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