Treatment and Symptom Management of Cancer

Your treatment plan is tailored specifically to you. Depending on your health, type of cancer and stage of cancer. Treatment can include:

What is Interventional Radiology?

Interventional radiology is image-guided surgery using x-rays, ultrasound, fluoroscopy, CT or MR to guide equipment through a small needle-sized puncture in the skin. Many procedures that once required surgery can be performed by an Interventional Radiologist without general anesthesia or incisions. Often, patients are able to go home the very same day.

Interventional Oncology

For cancer treatment, interventional radiology techniques can reach and destroy tumors by directly treating them. Treatment is highly targeted and does not require incisions.

Percutaneous ablation –killing cancer cells by directly freezing or heating the tumor:

  • Cryoablation (freezing)
  • Microwave ablation (heating)
  • Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) (heating)

Intra-arterial therapies

  • Chemoembolization (C-TACE) – delivers chemotherapy medication directly to the tumor via a small catheter inserted in the blood vessel through the groin
  • Drug-eluding Bead Chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) – delivers chemotherapy medication beads directly to tumors via a small catheter inserted in the blood vessel through the groin
  • Radioembolization – tiny radioactive beads injected into the tumor destroying the cancer cells over time

Interventional radiologists also support cancer patients through other procedures including:

  • Placement of tunneled catheters
  • Placement of ports for chemotherapy
  • IVC filter placement
  • Percutaneous image-guided biopsy

Interventional Oncology at Guthrie

  • Unique in the region – Interventional oncology offers treatments for patients who may not be eligible for other therapies. At Guthrie, we are the only health care system in the region offering these options to cancer patients.
  • Board-certified specialists – Our interventional radiologists received additional specialty training in the treatment of cancer. Interventional radiologists are part of a team of oncologists working together to provide you the best care possible.