Electives in Radiation Oncology are offered for students considering specialty training in Surgery, Gynecology, Otorhinolaryngology, Pediatrics, Radiology, Internal Medicine, and Family Practice, as well as Radiation Oncology and Medicine subspecialties of Hematology and Medical Oncology.
The medical student is introduced to the diagnosis, staging, prognosis, evaluation and treatment by radiation of patients with neoplastic and some benign diseases. 50% of all cancer patients are treated by radiation at some time during the course of their disease and one-half of the patients treated by radiation are treated with curative intent. The success rate depends upon stage and site of cancer, with some cancers being permanently controlled in 90% of patients.
The residency program is designed to offer a well-rounded education in the treatment of tumors by radiation. The program includes instruction in radiation oncology, radiation biology, radiation physics, and an introduction to clinical research. The resident is involved in the direct care of cancer patients. Designated periods of time are spent with oncologists who are specially trained in treatment of various cancers: gynecological, breast, head and neck, thoracic, lymphomas/leukemias, pediatric, GU, GI, respiratory, CNS, soft tissue, skin tumors, and metastatic disease. Faculty-resident ratio is 1:1.
The department serves Indiana University Medical Center Hospitals and referrals from all parts of the state and out of state. Approximately 875 new patients are treated in the department annually and an additional 250 patients are seen in consultation. Special services include pediatric and adult total body irradiation as part of bone marrow transplantation, brachytherapy, pediatric radiotherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery. Over 1,000 follow-up examinations are performed each year. Residents and students participate in treatment planning conferences, chart rounds, follow-up clinics and tumor conferences.
The department works closely with many other departments of the Medical School in a multi-disciplinary approach to the treatment of cancer. Interdepartmental tumor conferences include GYN/Radiation Oncology, Pediatric Hematology/Radiation Oncology, Head and Neck Surgery/Medical Oncology/Radiation Oncology, VAH Multi-disciplinary, Neurosurgery/Radiation Oncology, Thoracic Oncology/Radiation Oncology, and Multi-disciplinary Breast Conference.
In addition to active research programs in radiation physics and radiobiology, the department participates in a number of multi-institutional cooperative groups which conduct clinical research.
Lectures in clinical oncology, radiation physics and radiation biology are given by departmental faculty. Case presentations are held three days per week, and chart rounds are conducted weekly.
Very sophisticated radiation therapy equipment is located in the department and includes two Siemens KD 2 linear accelerators, Oldelft and CGR treatment simulators, high dose-rate and low dose-rate remote afterloaders, and computerized treatment planning system, including 3-D. A Stereotactic Radiosurgery unit using Gamma Knife began treating patients in September of 1997 in collaboration with Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Neurosurgery.
Faculty members available for counseling:
Higinia Cardenes, M.D.,
Lanceford Chong, M.D.
Andrew Chang, M.D.
A.J. Fakiris, M.D.
Song-Chu Ko, M.D.
Mark
Langer, M.D.
Peter Johnstone, M.D.
Chairman
Department of Radiation Oncology