Cancer treatment may vary depending upon the type of cancer, the stage of cancer, and the goal of treatment. Often, one or more treatment modalities may be used to provide the most complete treatment for the patient. Increasingly, it is common to use several treatment modalities concurrently (together) or in sequence. This is referred to as multi-modality treatment of the cancer and the modalities may include surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation therapy. For the majority of newly diagnosed cancer patients, the optimal treatment may be a multi-modality approach composed of standard therapies that have been established through extensive medical research. For other patients, the most appropriate therapy may still be under investigation and may be available only through a clinical trial.
At the University of Florida Shands Cancer Center, multidisciplinary treatment teams are dedicated to the management of specific cancer types and sites through coordinated sub-specialty tumor boards and clinics. Whether you have a common or rare type of cancer, primary or recurrent cancer, physician and oncology professionals guide you through the diagnostic, treatment and after-care services for all types of adult and children’s cancers. Our comprehensive cancer program provides you with the finest leading-edge cancer prevention and treatment while giving physicians and healthcare professionals the opportunity to do their best work.
The University of Florida Shands Cancer Center provides state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment equipment, facilities, and services, including social work support, physical therapy, speech therapy, and nutrition counseling. The American Cancer Society has also generously awarded UF Radiation Oncology a grant to assist, on a case-by-case basis, our patients who live over 40 miles away from Gainesville and require lodging when receiving treatment. Oncology Certified Nurses and Navigator / Coordinators facilitate the delivery of individualized oncology care throughout the treatment process, including the participation in National Cancer Institute-sponsored clinical trials.
Sub-Specialty Oncology Services:
- Brain tumors and other tumors of the central nervous system
- Breast cancers, including breast-preserving and intra-operative procedures
- Childhood cancers – leukemia / lymphoma, brain, bone and connective tissues, and all other rare cancers
- Hodgkin’s disease and other types of lymphoma
- Gynecologic cancers – cervix, uterus, vagina, and ovary, with inclusion of advanced brachytherapy technologies
- Head and neck cancers – mouth, throat, tonsil, larynx and thyroid, including laryngeal- and voice-preserving treatment
- Lung cancers – primary tumors and metastatic spread
- Genitourinary (GU) tract cancers – kidney, bladder and prostate cancers, and cancers of the testicles and external genitals, with a focus on organ and functional preservation
- Gastrointestinal (GI) tract cancers – rectal and anal region cancers, pancreas, esophagus, liver and other primary tumors and metastatic processes, with a focus on functional and sphincter preservation
- Sarcomas – tumors of the bones and connective tissues
- Skin cancers – melanoma, basal cell, and squamous cell cancers
The Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Florida has an exceptionally comprehensive radiation treatment program offering dedicated tumor type and site sub-specialized expertise. Our team collaborates with counterparts in Surgical Oncology, Medical and Pediatric Oncology, Pathology and Diagnostic Radiology.
Radiation Oncology faculty and staff are key members of the multidisciplinary treatment teams, coordinating state-of-the-art diagnostic evaluations, staging studies, multi-modality treatment and survivorship care through interactive tumor board conferences and multidisciplinary clinic encounters. Physicians and staff work with clinical physicists to bring the latest technological developments from industry to our patients. Treatment plans are created using the most advanced computing and imaging technology, allowing our Radiation Oncologists and Physicists to carefully administer radiation to “target tissues” while minimizing radiation exposure to uninvolved tissues.
The Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Florida Shands Hospital provides a full range of radiation treatment services. Patients are treated with the optimal techniques and modalities for their type and location of tumor.
Special radiation technologies:
- Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
- Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)
- Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)
- Short course radiation therapy for prostate cancer combined with a next-generation hydrogel spacer
- Use of an MR-only radiotherapy simulator (MRCAT) for treatment planning related to primary and metastatic tumors in the brain – the first to offer this technology in the United States
- Image guided radiation therapy (IGRT)
- High dose rate brachytherapy, including Mammosite treatment for breast cancer
- Total body irradiation for bone marrow transplantation
- Total skin irradiation for cutaneous lymphoma
- Systemic precision (targeted) radio ligand (conjugate) therapies for metastatic cancers of the prostate, GI neuroendocrine systems, and lymphoma (thyroid radio Iodine therapy)
- Spheres radionuclide therapy for liver tumors
- Intraoperative breast radiotherapy using IntraBeam Technology for breast cancer
- Proton Beam Radiotherapy is available at the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute in Jacksonville, Florida