Gynecologic cancers (involving the uterus, cervix, ovary, and other female organs):

The pelvis contains many important and sensitive organs, including the urinary bladder, rectum, and intestines. Our treatment techniques minimize radiation exposure to these organs, which in turn reduces the risk of many immediate and long term side effects. FROG has been a pioneer in the use of High Dose Rate brachytherapy, which allows our cervix and uterine cancer patients to receive internal radiation treatments as outpatients. In contrast, older Low Dose Rate brachytherapy treatments required four to six days of hospital admission, along with bed rest and isolation from visitors.
Gynecologic Cancer FAQs

Head and Neck cancers (mouth, throat, larynx, etc):

Long term side effects from treatment of head and neck cancers can greatly affect quality of life. Through state-of-the-art treatment planning and radiation delivery, FROG doctors can often limit the radiation exposure to sensitive normal tissues, such as the salivary glands. We also pioneered the use of radio-protective agents during treatment to decrease normal tissue reactions and preserve salivary function. These techniques lead to quicker recovery from treatment, improved healing, and better quality-of-life for our patients.

Hematologic cancers (Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia):

Cancers of the lymph nodes and bone marrow affect individuals of all ages. Some grow slowly, affecting a limited part of the body, while others progress rapidly and involve many areas. These diverse diseases are exquisitely sensitive to radiation therapy. FROG offers expertise in both external beam radiation therapy (which targets one or more lymph node areas to kill localized cancers) and targeted intravenous radiation therapy (which delivers tiny molecules of radioactive elements to specific cancer cells, wherever they are located in the body). Sometimes, radiation therapy is the only treatment necessary. Often it is used to complement chemotherapy treatments. In patients with leukemia, we use very extensive total body irradiation in preparation for bone marrow transplants to improve the chances of the transplanted marrow surviving in your body. Your FROG doctor will discuss with you how or why a particular treatment may be helpful in your cancer care regimen.

Skin cancers:

Patients often have many choices for treatment of skin cancers. Countless small skin cancers are frozen, burned, shaved, excised, and treated every year by primary care doctors and dermatologists. Sometimes, skin cancers become larger, or involve the face or parts of the body where simple treatments may be inappropriate. For many decades, superficial radiation therapy has been favored for these types of skin cancers, for several reasons: control rates with modern radiation therapy are similar to what is achievable with aggressive surgery (i.e. Mohs surgery), organ function is usually not affected (for example, an eyelid skin cancer can be treated without removal of the eyelid), and most patients heal without scarring. Due to the excellent cosmetic results radiotherapy offers, many patients prefer radiation therapy over disfiguring surgery for treatment of skin cancers on the face. This is a personal decision, and your FROG doctor will discuss your options with you.

Upper gastrointestinal cancers (esophagus, stomach, small bowel):

As with many other types of cancer, tumors of the GI tract often require a multidisciplinary treatment approach which includes the involvement of radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, and surgeons. Advancements in each of these areas over the years have led to improvement in outcomes with fewer side effects. Because FROG clinics offer cutting-edge technology that delivers radiation to the areas intended, while minimizing exposure of adjacent healthy organs, we are pleased to coordinate these complex treatments at a treatment center conveniently located to you. For certain unusual situations, FROG doctors may recommend specialized types of treatment, which are also available within our network. We believe that fully coordinating care this way makes a meaningful difference in our patients' lives.

Other cancers and benign conditions:

Radiation therapy is an important treatment for many conditions, including most cancers and a number of benign problems. Our extensive network of physicians and treatment centers, and the level of teamwork we bring to each patient's care, define who we are and how we practice. We welcome you to speak with a local FROG physician regarding your particular situation and concerns. Click the "Physicians & Clinics" tab at the top of this page for the locations of our cancer centers and information about our physicians.