lcmh.com 5 Cancer treatments in minutes Radiation therapy is a form of cancer treatment that uses radiation to kill cancer cells or to keep them from growing. All radiation treatments are unique to the cancer type and stage; therefore, each treatment is patient-specific. Each patient may experience different side effects depending on his or her unique treatment and difference in anatomy. At Lake Charles Memorial Health System, we use Varian Medical linear accelerators to deliver photons (similar to x-ray) to specific cancer sites in the body, as prescribed by an oncologist in the patient-specific treatment plan. Using the advanced technology of Trilogy and SmartArc, the Cancer Center delivers a precisely designed volumetric-modulated dose distribution. This form of treatment quickly rotates the linear accelerator beam around the patient, significantly reducing treatment time compared to traditional methods, allowing greater accuracy and less radiation to healthy tissue. After the patient has been properly placed in position, radiation can be administered in two to five minutes. Radiation oncologist James Maze, MD, along with the cancer treatment team, can help identify the appropriate treatment for each patient. Patients who receive their cancer treatment plan elsewhere may choose to receive these treatments locally, close to home. Comprehensive care close to home For more information on radiation oncology services available at the LCMH nationally recognized cancer treatment center, call 337-284-8455. Because of the sensitive location, the cancer required specialized, targeted treatment. In addition to chemotherapy, Russ was to receive radiation therapy five times a week over 30 days. “The chemo was to weaken the cancer and the radiation was going to do the heavy lifting, like getting rid of a tree stump,” explains Russ. Finding it more feasible to receive radiation treatments locally, Russ and his oncologist in Baton Rouge worked together with the Radiation Oncology team at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital’s Cancer Center. This allowed Russ to minimize his trips to Baton Rouge and stay close to his family and friends. “If you are on the fence about where to go for treatment, at least talk to the staff at Lake Charles Memorial. They have the people, the facility, and they have the equipment that the big boys have in Houston and Baton Rouge,” Russ says. Russ has taken his childhood dream of being in radio further. As someone involved in the community, he uses his platform to do more outreach to other cancer patients, along with those patients’ support teams of friends and family. He says, “I always want them to know their ‘Buddy Russ’ has their back.” Life with a cancer diagnosis may never be as it was before. Russ uniquely describes it by saying, “Normal is just a setting on a dryer.” His experience with cancer, he says, really put life into perspective. He now has a deeper appreciation for all the twists and turns life can throw at you as you try as hard as you can to find even a small silver lining in it all. And now, some wise words from Your Buddy Russ: Tell someone you love them. Make it weird, make it awkward, make sure the people around you know you care about them, because life is just stupid short.
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