Being diagnosed with a brain tumor can cause shock, fear, and confusion. For most people, having a brain tumor raises a lot of questions about what to do, where to go, and how to find the most comprehensive care.
Our team of Radiation Oncologists works in close collaboration with the specialists of the Brain Tumor Center at the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center in order to offer the most advanced, innovative therapies to patients with benign and malignant brain tumors, combined with compassion and support. Our physicians will individualize your care based on your specific needs. Their primary goal is to help treat your tumor while minimizing changes in the way your body functions and in your quality of life.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS)
The University of Chicago Medicine was the first health care provider in Chicago to offer Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) to its patients. Combining this advanced technique with years of experience, radiation oncologists can maintain excellent cancer control rates yet limit the long-term toxic effects of radiation on healthy tissues. The radiation specialists at the medical center are experts in using SRS to deliver the most benefits--with the fewest possible side effects--to cancer patients.
SRS is a form of radiation therapy that focuses high-power energy on a small area of the body. SRS targets and treats an abnormal area without damaging nearby healthy tissue. SRS is often used to slow the growth of small, deep brain tumors that are hard to surgically remove.
SRS is a way of targeting radiotherapy very precisely at the tumor. The radiotherapy beams are aimed at the tumor from many different directions. Treatment is delivered with a linear accelerator (LINAC). This is the same type of radiotherapy machine used for regular external beam radiotherapy. Stereotactic radiotherapy treatment is usually divided into daily doses called fractions. Stereotactic radiotherapy treatment has fewer side effects than the usual type of radiotherapy. This is because less healthy brain tissue is exposed to radiation.