Massachusetts General Hospital

The Department of Radiation Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital combines clinical expertise, compassionate care and advanced radiation therapies to deliver the safest, most effective treatments for cancer and benign tumors.

Our staff physicians include some of the world's most knowledgeable and skilled radiation oncologists. Each teaches at Harvard Medical School and specializes in a specific type of cancer:

• Brain
• Breast
• Bladder
• Gastrointestinal
• Gynecologic (cervix and uterus)
• Head and neck
• Lung
• Pancreas
• Pediatric cancers
• Prostate
• Sarcoma and bone
• Skin
• Every other organ and system in the body

Treating People, Not Just Diseases

Although we treat approximately 260 patients daily, our patients are never a number. All of our physicians, nurses and radiation therapists take pride in knowing their patients and families.

Our nurses educate patients and their families and provide all-important emotional support. In addition, we offer comprehensive support services on the hospital's main campus for patient convenience:

• Cancer-related counseling by social workers
• Nutritional support from registered dietitians
• Holistic therapies such as massage, art and music
• A hair-loss and cosmetic boutique
• Parenting assistance

Precisely Targeted Therapies

Our state-of-the-art radiation technologies, found in few other U.S. hospitals, provide precise targeting of tumors while minimizing the potential for injury to surrounding tissue. Each year, we successfully treat thousands of patients with noninvasive and minimally invasive internal and external radiation therapies, including:

• Proton beam therapy
• Stereotactic radiosurgery
• Brachytherapy
• Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
• Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT)
• Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT)

Pioneering Radiation Therapies

Our department has led the way in developing the most innovative and effective radiation therapies in the world, including:

• Proton beam therapy: Our proton therapy facility is the only one in the Northeast and one of six in the nation. We developed this breakthrough, highly targeted procedure, which results in improved patient outcomes and fewer side effects.
• IORT: We pioneered this revolutionary procedure, which helps improve postoperative outcomes. We are one of the few U.S. programs with an operating room dedicated to this treatment.

Research & Clinical Trials

Our physicians, physician-scientists and physicists are among the most active, visionary investigators in developing next-generation radiation therapies.

Education

We are a founding member of the Harvard Radiation Oncology Program. This four-year residency includes one year of research and produces some of the country's finest physicians and physician-scientists.