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Novalis Radiation Treatment

Novalis radiation treatment is a type of radiosurgery used to treat cancer. Novalis has many benefits over standard types of radiation therapy. The most important benefit is that it is capable of customizing the shape of the radiation beam to match the contour of the tumor being treated. This allows the entire tumor to be dosed with radiation in a single treatment session.

  1. Benefits of Novalis

    • Novalis radiation treatments are very targeted. They conform to the shape of the tumor so nearby healthy tissue is spared from radiation. This also allows for an equal amount of radiation to be delivered to all parts of the tumor with no one portion being overdosed or missed. Since the whole tumor is treated at once, an entire course of therapy can be completed in one treatment if the physician chooses to do so.

      Novalis treatments can also be administered in fractionated doses, which means treatment can be spread over time. This is beneficial for patients with tumors located in the brain or near cranial nerves where the risk of damage to healthy tissue is high.

    The Process

    • Novalis treatments are quick and painless. The entire procedure can be completed in a single morning. The doctor will take scans of the tumor first to determine its precise location and then calculate the treatment plan. The treatment itself takes around 30 minutes, then normal activities can be resumed.

      Radiation treatments work by directing high-energy beams into the tumor. This disrupts the DNA inside the cancer cells and causes them to die. The goal is for the tumor to stop growing and eventually shrink and be absorbed by the body. This process may take several months. According to the University of Arizona Medical Center, it can take up to six months to measure changes on tumor scans.

    Indications for Novalis

    • Novalis radiation treatments are sometimes combined with other types of cancer treatment such as surgery and chemotherapy. In some cases, Novalis treatments may be given alone, depending upon the type of cancer being treated and where the tumor is located. Tumors that were once considered untreatable because of their location near critical parts of the brain can now be treated with Novalis radiation.

    Side Effects

    • Side effects are usually minimal with Novalis radiation treatment. According to the University of Texas School of Medicine, there is no scarring and little risk of infection. Immediately after treatment there may be some dizziness, headache or fatigue. The UCLA Medical Center urges caution in using radiation therapy with young cancer patients as there may be a risk of radiation-induced cancer developing in later life.

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