Monday, March 20, 2017

Radiation Therapy Options for Prostate Cancer


An MD for more than 30 years, Dr. Rajiv “Raj” Dahiya serves as a radiation oncologist at Premier Cancer Centers in Dallas, TX. There, Dr. Rajiv “Raj” Dahiya uses innovative treatment technologies to address prostate and other cancers.

For patients with prostate cancer, radiation therapy can be an effective first-line treatment as well as an intervention for recurrent or advanced cancers. One option is external beam radiation therapy, or EBRT, which delivers therapeutic radiation to the tumor from outside the body. Most contemporary forms of EBRT involve image-guided radiation delivery that creates the shape of the radiation beam so as to minimize exposure of nearby tissues.

EBRT may be an element of a potentially curative treatment plan for patients with early stage cancers, though it is also used as a symptom mitigation measure for patients whose cancer has spread. Another option for treating early-stage prostate cancer is brachytherapy, also known as interstitial or internal radiation therapy. This methodology involves placing inside the prostate a series of small radioactive structures, each the size of a grain of rice. 

Most such interventions fall into a category known as permanent or low dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy, in which the implanted pellets continually emit small doses of radiation and then remain safely in the prostate after treatment is complete. Other patients receive what is known as temporary or high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy, which delivers increased levels of radiation through implanted catheters, with the catheters being removed after the therapy is complete.

High dose rate brachytherapy is often used in combination with EBRT, particularly for those patients who are at risk of the cancer spreading. Brachytherapy may also be used alone, though this is more common in patients with slow-growing cancers.

Thursday, March 9, 2017

About the TomoTherapy H Series





As an MD and radiation oncologist with Premier Cancer Centers in Dallas, TX, Dr. Rajiv “Raj” Dahiya offers patients access to innovative treatment technologies. Dr. Raj Dahiya makes use of the innovative TomoTherapy H Series HD, which provides targeted radiation therapy using advanced image guidance.

In 2012, Accuray introduced the TomoTherapy H Series radiation treatment technology, which features the advanced TomoHDA system. This system offers the industry's most advanced type of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), with accuracy enhanced through the use of computerized topography (CT) scanning. This combination of technologies allows the system to send radiation to a precise location, thus minimizing the chances of injury to surrounding organs and tissues.

Through extremely fast modulation and efficient image guidance, the TomoTherapy H Series allows users to reduce the time that patients spend in treatment. It also facilitates the development of individualized treatment plans, even for particularly complex cases. Advanced software provides guidance at all stages of treatment, including imaging and delivery, while also providing the option for care team members to contribute from remote workstations.

The treatment itself features a slice-therapy approach, which addresses tumors layer-by-layer. The system's advanced software provides daily image guidance and enables delivery changes in accordance with patient needs, so that treatment planning be adjusted to the evolving results.

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Researchers Discover DNA Link to Cancer





Dr. Rajiv (Raj) Dahiya received his MD from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine in 1994. Since January of 2016, Dr. Rajiv Dahiya has worked as an oncologist at the Premier Cancer Centers in Dallas, TX.

Premier Cancer Centers is setting the new standard for cancer treatments, and one potentially revolutionary new development in cancer treatment is the breakthrough in gene research. Every cancer results from some type of mutation in DNA in the patient’s body.

In 2013, British researchers developed the first map for the mutational process of tumors, and this should lead to superior treatment for many different cancers. In the study published in the journal Nature, scientists investigated more than 7,000 genomes of various cancers, and isolated 21 unique processes that result in DNA mutation.

The study also revealed that there are at least two processes involved in the 30 cancer types in the study, with even more for some cancers. For instance, ovarian cancer had only two mutational processes, while six were present in liver cancer. 

They also found that a group of enzymes called APOBECs which have been shown to mutate DNA were also involved in more than half the cancers involved in the research.

Friday, February 17, 2017

Advantages of the CyberKnife M6 System


  As a radiation oncologist at Premier Cancer Centers in Dallas, TX, Dr. Rajiv “Raj” Dahiya works with a broad range of advanced radiation technologies. Dr. Rajiv “Raj” Dahiya treats many of his patients with the CyberKnife M6, a robotic radiosurgery system.

Developed by the Accuray company, the CyberKnife M6 offers a noninvasive alternative to surgery for many cancer patients. It uses image guidance technology to specifically pinpoint a patient's tumor, which the system tracks throughout the course of treatment. This leads to precisely targeted radiation delivery with strong tumor-coverage rates and optimized conformal dosing, which maximizes effectiveness while minimizing secondary damage.

The treatment starts with preliminary imaging, which the radiation oncologist uses to plan the delivery of a dose. This plan serves as an instruction to the CyberKnife's computer-facilitated robot, which positions the machine in those locations determined to be most effective. The robot delivers the necessary radiation over the course of up to five sessions, each of which lasts 30 to 90 minutes.

The CyberKnife system has the capacity to treat tumors throughout the body and does not require any rigid positioning systems. Patients remain comfortably positioned throughout the treatment process and most often experience only minimal side effects, which typically resolve themselves in less than 48 hours.

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

The 58th ASTRO Annual Meeting


Rajiv Dahiya, MD, is a radiation oncologist with more than two decades of medical experience. In addition to practicing his specialty at Premier Cancer Centers in Dallas, TX, Dr. Raj Dahiya is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

ASTRO is made up of more than 10,000 medical professionals in the field of radiation treatment, a community that, together, annually treats more than a million patients suffering from cancer. 

Each year, ASTRO hosts an annual meeting attended by more than 11,000 individuals. The 58th installment took place in September 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts, and focused on “Enhancing Value, Improving Outcomes.” Over the course of five days, the annual meeting offered educational workshops and seminars, networking receptions, panels, and an exhibition. 

In addition to presidential symposiums, which examined value in radiation oncology and comparison of treatment modalities, the event held sessions on hematology, innovative technologies in physics, palliative care, and the effect of radiation on tissue.

Participants also had the opportunity to attend specialized sessions studying aspects of individual cancer diagnoses such as cervical, prostate, bladder, lung, and head and neck cancers. 

The 59th ASTRO annual meeting – “The Healing Art and Science of Radiation Oncology” – will take place September 24-27, 2017, in San Diego, California.

Sunday, January 29, 2017

The American College of Radiology's 2017 Annual Meeting


Dr. Rajiv Dahiya serves as a radiation oncologist at Premier Cancer Centers in Dallas, TX. Active in his broader professional community, Rajiv Dahiya, MD, maintains membership in numerous medical organizations, including the American College of Radiology (ACR). 

From May 21 through May 25, 2017, the ACR will hold its annual meeting at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. The meeting will include numerous educational sessions across pathways that include Clinical Education and Leadership, Clinical Research, and Informatics & Innovations. 

With session titles such as How to Evaluate the Patient With Chronic Liver Disease, Understanding Costs in Radiology and Healthcare, and Understanding Unconscious Bias in the Health Professions, the conference promises to offer something for all members of the association. Attendees will also have the opportunity to learn from colleagues who present abstracts via electronic posters on such topics as economics and health policy. 

To learn more about the ACR Annual Meeting, visit www.acr.org/Annual-Meeting.

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Outdoor Destinations in Argentina


A radiation oncologist in Dallas, TX, Dr. Rajiv Dahiya treats patients at Premier Cancer Centers. In his free time, Rajiv Dahiya, MD, travels extensively and has been to a range of countries in Europe and South America, including Argentina.

In addition to its vibrant cities, Argentina offers several destinations for those seeking outdoor beauty. Below are just a few:

- Perito Moreno. Located in Los Glacieres National Park, Perito Moreno is a 60-foot glacier and the main attraction in the park. Visitors take a boat past four glaciers before getting to Perito Moreno, where they might get to witness the spectacular sight of large chunks of ice falling into the water.

- Puerto Madryn. A popular place to visit in the summer, Puerto Madryn offers not only beautiful beaches but also opportunities to go whale watching. While visitors can take whale-watching tours by boat, during the winter months (July through September in Argentina), the whales are visible from land.

- Iguazu Falls. Iguazu Falls consist of several waterfalls surrounded by lush, green forest on the border of Brazil and Argentina. Visitors can enjoy the scenery on multiple walkways or take a boat that gets them close enough to the falls to feel the spray of the water.