 Radiation Oncology
The Radiation Oncology department of the DMH Cancer Care Institute is staffed by three Radiation Oncologists: Dr. Edward C. Elliott, Dr. MaryAnne dePaz, and Dr. Renata Moore. The radiation oncologists work with the other members of the radiation therapy team to develop the patient’s treatment and ensure that each treatment is given accurately. The radiation oncologists will monitor the progress and adjust the treatment as necessary to ensure the radiation is hitting its target which minimizes side effects. Before, during and after the patient’s radiation treatments, the radiation oncologist works closely with other cancer doctors, such as medical oncologists and surgeons to maximize the radiation's effectiveness.
The Initial Visit
The first visit is a consultation, to develop a plan, discuss proposed treatment and its possible side effects, and answer any questions the patient and family might have. A Radiation Oncology nurse participates in the patient assessment and education and serves as a resource to the patient and family throughout the treatment course.
The second visit is a simulation, where mapping and planning the treatment takes place. The radiation oncologist and a team of radiation therapists, dosimetrists, and physicists place the patient in the treatment position, utilize diagnostic scans and x-rays to accurately delineate the tumor and the surrounding normal tissue, and map out the treatment area. Measurements, x-rays and scans are taken which enable physicists and dosimetrists to accurately optimize a radiation plan which precisely focuses the radiation on the tumor and minimizes the dose to normal tissue.
Powerful, sophisticated treatment planning computers are used to construct detailed three dimensional plans between the time the patient is simulated and their first treatment.
The patient is scheduled for their first treatment a few days following their simulation. Each treatment takes approximately fifteen minutes with the exception of the first day which can take just a few minutes longer than normal. The treatments are painless and are localized to the area being treated. Many patients are able to continue their normal activities during the weeks of treatment.
State of the Art Treatment Technology
The Radiation Oncology Department at Decatur Memorial Hospital is a full service, state-of-the-art department. Treatment is delivered from linear accelerators incorporating the latest technology including multi-leaf collimation and electronic portal imaging. Radiation therapy simulation is performed with a CT/PET simulator. Radiation therapy planning is performed with sophisticated three-dimensional computerized treatment planning systems. Implant radiation therapy, including radioactive low dose prostate seed implant is performed at Decatur Memorial Hospital.
 Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) is a breakthrough in cancer treatment. IMRT optimizes treatment plans for each patient by maximizing the radiation dose delivered to a tumor while preventing it from harming the surrounding healthy tissue. This ability allows radiation oncologists to deliver more cancer-killing radiation to tumors while reducing the potential side effects. It also allows for complete flexibility in treating tumors that surround crucial structures and organs, assuring that patients receive the most accurate, state-of-the-art radiation therapy available today.
View IMRT Video
 Image Guided Radiation Therapy is new technology that can precisely locate a tumor and track it before each radiation therapy treatment. It improves treatment accuracy, minimizes the amount of healthy tissue exposed to radiation and reduces other side effects.
Decatur Memorial Hospital recently installed a Varian’s Clinac iX Linear Accelerator which includes an on-board imaging device in a robotically controlled arm. Before each radiation treatment, the on-board imager uses low-energy X-rays to precisely pinpoint a tumor site giving clinicians high-resolution digital images.
Additional technologies used with IGRT to plan a patient’s course of radiation therapy include CT (Computed Tomography), MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), and PET/CT (Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography)
Even with all these advanced technologies, the standard treatment time stays the same and less radiation is used for more effective treatment.
The IGRT system complements Decatur Memorial's IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy) system. IMRT helps shape the radiation beam to precisely fit the contours of the tumor.
Meet the Radiation Oncologists
The following staff members round out the Radiation Oncology Team:
- Radiation Oncology Director
- Radiation Oncology Nurse
- Radiation Therapist
- Radiation Physicists
- Certified Medical Dosimetrists
- Secretaries
- Other Healthcare Professionals
For more information, please contact the Department of Radiation Oncology at
217-876-2350.
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