Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that kills cancer cells and helps shrink your tumor. It is done by focusing high-energy beams on cancer cells while avoiding or minimizing damage to the surrounding tissue as much as possible.

UMGCCC radiation oncology experts provide a full range of advanced radiation therapies, including the latest technology available to treat all types of cancer.

As part of a multidisciplinary team, we work closely with medical oncologists and surgical oncologists to provide personalized treatment plans for our patients. In addition, two or more of our radiation oncologists collaborate together on each individual case to ensure every patient receives an ideal radiation therapy care plan and has the best chance for a successful outcome.

Our goal is to offer the most advanced treatment options available to help our patients fight a winning battle against cancer. We are one of less than 50 hospitals nationwide designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute. We also rank among the top 35 in the country for cancer care, according to the U.S. News and World Report's Best Hospitals list. But, the most important feedback we receive are from our patients who inspire us every day to provide excellent care.

With six locations throughout Maryland, we can offer you access to the latest treatments, pioneering clinical trials and expert consultation on treatment plans no matter where you live.

To make an appointment or to learn more about our program, call 410-328-6080.

Therapies and Technology

We offer the latest innovative treatments in radiation therapy. Our radiation oncologists are regularly some of the first to adopt the latest radiation therapies and treatment approaches. They have also pioneered and invented new radiation treatment technologies, such as the GammaPod for early-stage breast cancer.

Our treatment options include different forms of external beam therapy. These include stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), in which higher doses of radiation are delivered in fewer treatment sessions while sparing nearby normal cells. For patients with liver cancer, we have one of the most experienced selective internal radiation therapy centers in the country. We also offer brachytherapy, which safely delivers radiation from a source implanted into a tumor, and hyperthermia in which gentle heat is used before treatment to make radiation therapy work even better.

Most radiation therapies are non-invasive outpatient procedures with minimal side effects, allowing you to get back to your daily routine sooner.

At the Maryland Proton Treatment Center (MPTC), we offer pencil beam scanning proton therapy, the most advanced form of proton therapy in the world, in all of our treatment rooms. Proton beams can be programmed to stop at the tumor site, which means that more healthy tissue is protected from the radiation. MPTC's expert physicians are different, with an average of 20 years of experience treating all types of cancer and over 40 years of combined proton therapy experience. The world-class staff at MPTC receive specialized training in proton therapy to provide you with a level of care unlike anywhere else in the region.

Our goal is to provide you with the most advanced treatment plan that gives you the best chance for a good outcome.

Learn more about our therapies and technology.

Patient Experience

It can be challenging to go through cancer treatment, and we want to make it as smooth and seamless for you as possible. We offer an array of services to support you holistically throughout your cancer journey.

Through our free concierge program, you'll be assigned a personal contact who will help arrange different parts of your treatment experience, including coordinating appointments or finding lodging and transportation.

We offer free valet parking for every appointment.

Our team also includes licensed social workers to help answer financial and insurance questions, and offer emotional support and understanding. Clinical dieticians can develop individualized nutrition plans to help improve your overall health. And, licensed geneticists can provide you with insight into personal risk factors and family history.

Learn more about the patient experience.

Research and Clinical Trials

UMGCCC is a national leader in radiation therapy research. We are one of the top 10 radiation oncology departments in the country in the amount of federal funding granted for cutting-edge research. This helps give our patients access to the latest technologies available for cancer treatment.

We are committed to providing our patients with access to cutting-edge investigator-initiated clinical trials as well as National Cancer Institute sponsored cooperative group clinical trials. The department has consistently ranked among the top 10 of NRG Oncology's main member sites worldwide in terms of patient enrollments for clinical trials.

We are also leaders in developing new technology. Our physician-scientists are responsible for inventing technology that is changing the way cancer patients are treated, including the GammaPod for early-stage breast cancer, and RapidArc which delivers treatment with sub-millimeter accuracy in less than two minutes.

Read more about radiation oncology research at UMGCCC.

Make an Appointment

To make an appointment with one of our radiation oncologists, please call 410-328-6080.