Advanced Radiation Technology

Compass Cancer Center is committed to providing you with the highest quality cancer care. We are one of the only centers in the mid-Michigan area offering advanced radiation therapy with the Elekta Infinity™ system – a faster, safer, more precise way to deliver radiation treatments.

Our advanced technology enables your doctor to target your treatment more precisely than ever before, helping minimize side effects and reducing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Elekta Infinity reduces treatment session time to fifteen minutes or less, improving your comfort and minimizing disruption to your normal activities.

Safer treatments

Elekta Infinity offers ultra-low dose capabilities. It actively reduces radiation leakage to minimize unnecessary radiation to the surrounding healthy tissue.

Accurate imaging, precise targeting

Compass Cancer Center is the first cancer treatment center in mid-Michigan providing three-dimensional (3D) imaging at the time of treatment. This creates a more accurate image of the treatment area, allowing more precise targeting and minimizing the side effects of radiation therapy.

Compass Health Offers State of The Art Skin Cancer Treatment

A new treatment option for those diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC).

If you’ve been diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), including basal and squamous cell carcinomas, you’re probably wondering about your treatment options and how your life might be impacted.

Skin cancer commonly occurs on exposed areas, such as your face, hands, legs or scalp, where uneven surfaces may make treatment challenging, or where post-surgery scars are undesirable. If you have been diagnosed with NMSC, perhaps Compass Health’s new electronic brachytherapy treatment is right for you.

What Is Electronic Brachytherapy Treatment (eBx)?

Compass Health’s electronic brachytherapy (eBx) treatment is the only treatment of its kind in mid- Michigan. The system brings a small X-ray source very close to the cancer lesion. Rather than surgically cutting the tissue away, high dose rate (HDR) radiation is precisely focused at cancerous tissue to destroy it. Treatments require just a few brief visits to the Compass Cancer Center.

Skin cancer treatment requires an individualized approach. Your Compass Health radiation oncologist will recommend a course of treatment and therapeutic modality based on your general health, age, medical history and the type, size and location of your cancer. Even in patients whose NMSC occurs in highly visible areas, Compass Health offers a new option with excellent cosmetic and clinical results. Esteya may also be the preferred option for patients for whom surgery presents a high intra-operative or post-operative risk of complications.

Is It Safe?

At Compass Health, your treatment is performed under the direction of a Board –Certified Radiation Oncologist – a physician who is specially trained and experienced in cancer and radiation treatments. Designed by a global leader in brachytherapy, this treatment allows the therapy to be focused directly at the cancerous lesion without damaging surrounding tissue. The applicators are uniquely designed to protect the healthy surrounding skin without additional shielding meaning your treatment is provided in a comfortable office room setting. The applicators come in a variety of sizes to enable safe and effective treatment of the challenging areas – such as around the eyes, on the nose, or on the shin. And, built-in features support your safety while optimizing treatment benefits.

Common side effects may include temporary redness, dryness, itching or soreness in the treated area. Be sure to discuss all the possible side effects with your Compass Health physician in order to make an informed decision in your own best interest.

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What Is Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)?

Image Guided Radiation Therapy is a technique whereby consistent imaging is used to enhance accuracy throughout the course of your radiation therapy. The imaging equipment can be built into the linear accelerator or mounted in the treatment room. Your Compass Cancer Center radiation oncologist is able to adjust your treatment plan to optimize your radiation therapy after reviewing and comparing your full set of images.

Benefits of IGRT include:

Therefore, IGRT may be recommended for treating tumors that are located close to vital and sensitive organs. Also, image guided radiation therapy can be useful for addressing tumors in parts of the body that are prone to movement, including the lungs, prostate and liver.

What Is Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)?

Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy, is a type of treatment in which precisely shaped beams of radiation are directed at a solid tumor. The therapy begins with three dimensional images of a tumor. These images are evaluated and exact coordinates are entered and programmed into the linear accelerator. This allows our radiation therapist to deliver precise doses of radiation accounting for the tumors unique size and shape.

IMRT is especially useful in the treatment of unusually shaped tumors, as well as those that are situated extremely close to vital organs (and therefore have an increased likelihood of producing side effects if the nearby healthy tissues sustain damage during treatment). By using IMRT, oncologists are able to:

What Is Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)?