Radiation Oncology

Leading the Way in Cancer Care

The Albany Med Health System's accredited radiation oncology is the Capital Region's leader in state-of-the-art technology and treatment methods for adults and children.  Our work is collaborative effort between radiation oncologists, nursing specialists, medical physicists, dosimetrists, radiation therapists, and supportive care professionals.

Radiation therapy uses high-dose radiation to shrink tumors by destroying cancer cells. It may be used alone or alongside chemotherapy and surgery. Our individualized approach enables us to limit side effects, improve outcomes, and enhance the overall quality of life.

We know a cancer diagnosis causes a lot of distress. We are a patient-centered program, knowing that every patient is unique and every patient’s needs may be different. We deliver the highest-quality of care, and design a treatment plan specifically formulated for you.

Care Throughout the Capital Region

Radiation oncology services are available at Albany Medical Center, the CR Wood Cancer Center at Glens Falls Hospital, and through Saratoga Hospital's Mollie Wilmot Radiation Oncology Center.

All locations and physicians in the System can be found in the Get Care section of this page.

ACRO Accreditation

ACRO Radiation Oncology Accreditation LogoThe Radiation Oncology programs at Albany Medical Center, Glens Falls Hospital, and Saratoga Hospital are ACRO accredited. Our facilities have voluntarily gone through a vigorous review process to be successful in the day-to-day practice of radiation oncology. Our equipment is appropriate for the test or treatment you will receive, and our facilities meet or exceed quality assurance and safety guidelines.

Conditions We Treat

  • Anal Cancer
  • Bladder Cancer
  • Benign Tumors
  • Brain Tumors
  • Brain Cancer
  • Breast Cancer
  • Cervical Cancer
  • Colon and Rectal Cancer
  • Esophageal Cancer
  • Head and Neck Cancer
  • Kidney Cancer
  • Liver Cancer
  • Lung Cancer
  • Lymphoma
  • Mediastinal Tumors
  • Melanoma
  • Multiple Myeloma
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors
  • Ovarian Cancer
  • Pancreatic Cancer
  • Pediatric Cancer
  • Penile Cancer
  • Prostate Cancer
  • Sarcoma and Other Soft Tissue Tumors
  • Skin Cancer
  • Spinal tumors
  • Stomach Cancer
  • Testicular Cancer
  • Thymus Cancer
  • Thyroid Cancer
  • Urethral Cancer
  • Uterine and Endometrial Cancer
  • Vaginal Cancer
  • Vulvar Cancer

Services We Offer

  • Linear Accelerator: Linac based radiation therapy utilizing (VMAT) Volumetric Arc Therapy, (IMRT) Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy, and Conformal Beam treatments.
  • Advanced Technology: Image Guidance Radiation Therapy (IGRT), 4D Organ Motion Management, and Surface Guidance (SGRT), to precisely locate area of treatment and position the patient.
  • Stereotactic Radiosurgey (SRS): Extremely precise technique that allows for the delivery of a high concentrated dose of radiation to be delivered in 1-5 treatments to the head.
  • Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT): Utilization of special equipment to position the patient to be able to deliver a very high dose of radiation to tumors delivered in 1-5 treatments to the body. SBRT technique is often used for lung and liver tumors, in patients who cannot undergo surgery.
  • Pediatric Radiation Oncology: Radiation oncology services for children, with full pediatric anesthesia available as needed.
  • Radioembolization (Y90): Y90 refers to the radioactive isotope yttrium90, which is inserted into tiny particles and used to deliver radiation directly to tumors via long, thin tubes called catheters Y90 treatment.
  • Gamma Tile: Surgically Targeted Radiation Therapy (STaRT) for brain Tumors. A radiation treatment specifically designed for use inside the brain.
  • Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT):  Successful radiation therapy is dependent on the ability to deliver substantially more dose to a tumor than surrounding healthy tissues. Image-Guided Radiation Therapy has been newly developed over the past few years to improve dose delivery. Image-Guided Radiation Therapy allows for superior localization of a tumor relative to healthy tissues.
  • Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Volume-Modulated Radiation Therapy (VMAT), Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS): Radiotherapy requires delivering the greatest dose possible to a tumor while sparing normal tissues. IMRT, VMAT and SRS are radically new methods of x-ray therapy that are exceptionally successful at increasing tumor dose while reducing side effects.
  • Brachytherapy: Brachytherapy is a form of radiotherapy in which small radioactive sources are placed directly into or near a tumor. Our radiation oncology department has an active brachytherapy service. High-dose-rate brachytherapy has given breast cancer patients an alternative to external beam therapy and has greatly improved the implant treatment of endometrial cancer and cervical cancer.

First Visit:

The first appointment is usually a two-to-three hour consultation with a radiation oncologist and nurses to discuss the best treatment options available for you, based on your diagnosis.

All of your information, including office notes, imaging results, and lab results will be collected from your referring provider.

What to bring to your first appointment:

  • Photo ID
  • Insurance Cards
  • List of medications
  • Health care proxy form or Advance Directives
  • Parking ticket for validation

You are encouraged to bring a family member or friend with you to take notes and listen during your appointment, as there will be a lot of information discussed.

If you need translation services or interpretation for the hearing impaired let us know and we will be prepared with face-to-face translator services through our secure Ipad.

CT Simulation:

After the consultation, the treatment planning session is called “simulation." During simulation, a radiation therapist performs a Computed Tomography (CT) Simulation, which will help plan your radiation treatments. Marks will be placed on the skin to mark the area for daily setup once your treatment begins.

Treatment Planning:

Using sophisticated treatment planning software, the radiation oncologist and physics team will create a unique plan based on the size and shape of the targeted area. The planning process could take up to 10-15 business days to complete. The doctor bases the treatment course on several factors and may lengthen or shorten a course at any time. The treatment course could range from one day to eight weeks.

During Treatment:

Your treatments will be performed by a licensed radiation therapist. On average, the treatment will take about 10-15 minutes daily, except for Stereoteactic Body and Stereotactic Cranial treatments, which usually takes about 45 minutes daily.

During your course of therapy, you will meet weekly with your doctor and nurses.

Side effects include fatigue, redness, itching, dryness, darkening of skin, loss of appetite, and soreness. These side effects are temporary in most cases.

After Treatment:

After you have completed your radiation therapy, you will be given follow-up appointment instructions, medication guidance, or future labs and imaging studies, as needed if requested by the radiation oncologist.

Our Radiation Oncology program maintains cutting edge technology to enable the most sophisticated level of care.

Our facility consists of:

CT Simulation: One CT Simulation vault that encompasses a Philips Big Bore CT. This CT scanner enables the team to perform the patient’s CT Simulation, fabricate necessary immobilization devices, as well as utilize the wide 85cm bore to properly position the patient for treatment.

Treatment Machines: Two treatment vaults that house the Varian 21ix™ and TrueBeam™ systems. These fully integrated radiation therapy systems deliver unmatched precise, high-dose radiation therapy. They are used to deliver all forms of external-beam radiation therapy, including 3-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-Comformal), Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Stereotactic Cranial Radiosurgery (SRS), Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), as well as the ability to perform Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), utilizing the advanced imaging hardware combined with state-of-the-art software.