December 25, 2025 – Closed
January 1, 2026 – Closed
As of the afternoon of January 23, 2025, our phones are operational. Thank you for your patience as our phone provider experienced a national outage that impacted our phone services on the afternoon of January 22 and the morning of January 23.
Radiation therapy can be used to treat benign inflammatory conditions where other treatment methods, such as anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy, have been unsuccessful. This form of treatment is an excellent alternative as there is no barrier for the radiation to pass through the inflamed target area.
During the treatment process, radiation breaks down the sensitive white blood cells that are releasing TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor) which is the cause of inflammation and pain/discomfort. Treatment is painless and improvement in mobility and a reduction in pain/discomfort can sometimes be seen after the first session.
Our team of specialists will work with you to fully understand your individual case and recommend a personalized treatment plan.
We have an experienced and compassionate team of experts including doctors, physicist, dosimetrist and radiation therapists who work together to carefully create and deliver a treatment plan designed to ensure the best possible outcome. Our team utilizes advanced 3D CRT (3-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy) and IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy).
3-D Conformal Radiation Therapy uses CT, MRI and PET scans to create three-dimensional images of the tumor. Your oncologist and medical physicist then uses these images to develop your personalized radiation treatment plan.
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy uses these advanced computer images to adjust the intensity (dose), direction and shape of radiation beams delivered to the tumor. This precision targets the tumor and spares adjacent healthy tissue.
For pain management and inflammatory conditions, radiation therapy is carefully targeted to the specific area causing discomfort. Treatment plans are designed to deliver low-dose radiation precisely to affected tissues, helping reduce inflammation and relieve pain while minimizing impact on surrounding healthy structures.
Receiving a diagnosis of cancer is emotional, scary, overwhelming and can make you feel like you’ve lost control. Your cancer and the way you respond to treatments are individual and personal. Most people know about cancer through the experience of someone else, often a family member or friend. There are many types of cancer and other people’s experiences will not be the same as yours. We encourage you to express your emotions, ask questions and allow us to teach you how to be an advocate for yourself.
Several cancers today have excellent outcomes and can be cured with new technologies and advancements. In other cases, treatments may be given which either extend or maintain your quality of life. The first step to regaining control and alleviating much of your anxiety is to educate yourself about your cancer. Few cancers require emergency treatment so you have time to learn about your diagnosis and treatment options. We encourage you to ask questions and seek additional medical information.
There are many websites with information about cancer. In addition to our site, we recommend using reliable sources, including The American Cancer Society and The National Cancer Institute.
When used for pain or inflammatory conditions, radiation therapy is typically well tolerated and focused on improving comfort and quality of life. Many patients experience gradual symptom relief following treatment, with minimal disruption to daily activities.
Our team has experience using radiation therapy for select pain and inflammatory conditions when other treatment options have not provided adequate relief. We follow evidence-based protocols and carefully evaluate each case to ensure radiation is used appropriately and safely.
We know you have a choice about where you get your cancer care. Here are the top reasons why we believe San Bernardino Cancer Care Center is the best choice:
You will have a CT scan, PET scan or MRI to create a personalized treatment plan. A specialized team, including your oncologist, will use 3D images and special computer software to establish the precise contours for each tumor and any regions of risk (sensitive organs or structures). Your physician will decide how much radiation the tumor should receive and the appropriate pattern, position and intensity of the radiation beam will be calculated.
For pain management, planning focuses on identifying the exact source of discomfort and determining whether low-dose radiation therapy may help reduce inflammation or nerve-related pain.
Radiation treatments happen Monday through Friday for a number of weeks, usually for 5-8 weeks. Weekend breaks, on Saturday and Sunday, allow your normal cells to recover and assist your healing process.
Pain management treatments are typically delivered over a short course, often consisting of a limited number of sessions. Your physician will determine the appropriate schedule based on your condition and response to prior therapies.
Ink marks or small tattoo-like dots may be placed on your skin in the area of the tumor to ensure the radiation is precisely delivered to the tumor. The markings are visible on your skin, but only in the area of the tumor and are not permanent. They are designed to fade and will begin to disappear towards the end of your radiation treatments. Occasionally, the markings will have to be reapplied to your skin during treatment. It is very important that you do not scrub the markings, during your bathing/showering. Your radiation therapist will discuss with you how to care for your skin during your treatments, including protecting the markings. You may also need a custom-fitted molded device to help keep you in the same position before and during treatment.
Our radiation therapists will bring you from the waiting room to the treatment room with the linear accelerator (radiation machine). They will ensure you are comfortable and assist you in getting positioned on the treatment table.
Our therapist will align the laser to the target on your skin, indicated by the “tattoo-like” markings. Alignment takes only a couple of minutes. The therapist will leave the room to deliver and monitor your treatment.
During treatment, the machine will move around your body. You won’t feel anything. It’s much like having an x-ray. Sometimes the specific area of skin receiving treatment, can get tender and sunburned, your healthcare team will want to know if you are experiencing any burning or discomfort during your treatment. Your healthcare team will guide you with proper care of your skin.
Typically the treatment takes about 10-15 minutes. Daily treatment sessions are brief, though setup and positioning may take additional time to ensure accuracy.
The most common side effect is fatigue – it is very important to get plenty of rest and adequate nutrition. Generally, you will see your doctor weekly. We are always available if you need us.