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« Cancer Care

Radiation Oncology

When using radiation to treat your cancer, you want the most technologically advanced treatment as possible along with the compassionate care that comes only from St. Elizabeth's.

Man receiving a medical scan, rear view.

Our Radiation Oncology Center at the Cancer Care Center of O’Fallon offers state-of-the-art radiation treatments for cancer patients. 

What is radiation oncology and how does it work?

Cancer is a disease that causes normal cells in the body to grow out of control. Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and prevent them from multiplying and growing. Radiation is generated by specialized equipment or by radioactive sources implanted inside the patient.

Radiation therapy is painless, and you do not feel anything while the treatments are given. It can be used alone in the fight against cancer or in conjunction with surgery and/or chemotherapy.

Woman receiving medical scan

What to Expect

On the day of your first treatment, you will be positioned using your immobilization device on the treatment table. 

The linear accelerator will then take a miniature CT scan of the treatment region using on board imaging, and the images will be superimposed on your simulation CT scan. 

Depending on your diagnosis, the actual treatment length varies from five to 60 minutes to complete. You will not feel anything during the treatment, but you will see the treatment machine rotate around you while it is taking images or delivering the treatment. 

During the treatment, the high-energy linear accelerator will deliver a radiation plan that has been predetermined by the radiation oncologist, and has been customized for your anatomy. This process will be repeated for every one of your treatments to assure the greatest precision and accuracy. Your radiation therapists lead this process. 

TrueBeam radiation linear accelerator

Our Technologies & Treatments

Radiation Linear Accelerator and CT-simulator – The high-precision TrueBeam medical linear accelerator (LINAC) customizes high energy X-rays or electrons to conform to a tumor's shape and destroy cancer cells while sparing surrounding normal tissue. It features several built-in safety measures to ensure that it will deliver the dose as prescribed and is routinely checked by a medical physicist.

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) - Intensity-modulated radiotherapy uses linear accelerators to safely deliver precise radiation to a tumor while minimizing the dose to surrounding normal tissue.

Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) - Image-guided radiation therapy is the use of imaging during radiation therapy to improve the precision and accuracy of treatment delivery. It is used to treat tumors in areas of the body that move, such as the lungs. 

Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) and Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) - Stereotactic radiosurgery is a non-surgical radiation therapy used to treat functional abnormalities and small tumors of the brain. It can deliver precisely-targeted radiation in fewer high-dose treatments than traditional therapy, which can help preserve healthy tissue. When SRS is used to treat body tumors, it's called stereotactic body radiotherapy.

What Patients Are Saying

"Each and every day the staff greeted me with a smile, concern, and understanding. They all made me feel as if I was a member of their personal family. Thank you."

"Dr. Witt and his team are all amazing. Everyone is wonderful all the way from the front desk to nurse and doctor. Thank you for everything you do." 

"The whole staff is the greatest! It is the staff and crew that made me choose St. Elizabeth's for my treatment in the first place. God bless all of you." 

"I want to thank you for the excellent way my treatment went. One of the best teams I have been around. Keep up the good work."

"Wow! What can I say. This is the most professional positive group of caregivers I have ever seen. This cancer care team is of the highest standards. Thank you St. Elizabeth's for giving us this oncology radiation center."

Our Providers

Jacob Witt, MD

Jacob Witt, MD

Certification: Radiation Oncology | American Board of Radiology
Memberships
  • American Society of Radiation Oncology
  • American College of Radiation Oncology
  • American College of Radiology
  • Radiological Society of North America
  • Society for Neuro-Oncology

Awards
  • Wisconsin Association of Hematology/Oncology Outstanding Abstract Top Winner, 2020
  • American Radium Society Travel Grant, 2020
  • ASTRO Junior Investigator Award for Basic/Translational Science, 2019

Hometown
  • St. Louis, MO

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Frequently Asked Questions About Radiation Treatment

You will only lose your hair if we are treating in the head region.
Yes. While receiving external radiation treatments, you are not at risk of endangering others.
Each treatment session will last between 15 and 20 minutes.
Yes. Treatments are given Monday through Friday.
Fatigue is a side effect of radiation, but most people are able to continue with their daily activities.
Since radiation treatment is localized to the area of your body with the tumor, your side effects generally are limited to that area as well. Your skin might be red, irritated or swollen at the treatment site. Please talk to your doctor about the side effects you might experience based on the location of your tumor.
Most patients are able to drive themselves to treatment, but check with your physician to make sure it is safe for your particular case.
 
No. Radiation therapy is much like receiving an X-ray. You will not feel anything while receiving treatment.
No. Most new patients are able to schedule an appointment within one week of calling.
Every patient's treatment plan is unique. Talk to your doctor to find out what your next steps will be. Remember, you are not alone in this fight. We are always here for you after treatment.