Duke physicians integrate the most innovative radiation techniques with new combinations of cancer-killing drugs to achieve the optimal outcome for each patient.

Duke is a national leader in using pre-operative chemotherapy and radiation treatments to shrink tumors in patients with pancreatic, colorectal, and gastric cancers before surgery to reduce complications and improve outcomes.

Other novel radiation therapies include transrectal ultrasound, intra-operative radiation targeted directly at the tumor during surgery, and hyperthermic radiation using heat to boost radiation’s effectiveness.

For tumors that have metastasized to other parts of the body, Duke radiologists use the latest imaging techniques such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and MRI to pinpoint the precise location of tumors.

Medications

Duke medical oncologists routinely integrate new chemotherapy agents into standard drug regimens to achieve a better response, fewer side effects, improved quality of life, and a greater chance for cure.

Our doctors can administer the newest experimental drugs before they become widely available to cancer patients at large.

For instance, our physicians led the nation in testing a newly approved drug, Avastin, that shrinks tumors and extends survival in patients with colorectal cancer that has spread. Clinical studies of other novel anti-cancer therapies are now ongoing.

Physicians

Physicians offering this service include:

• Brizel, David M.
• Czito, Brian G.
• Hahn, Carol A.
• Jones, Ellen L.
• Kirkpatrick, John P.
• Larrier, Nicole A.
• Lindsay, Beth H.
• Morse, Michael A.
• Oleson, James R.
• Prosnitz, Leonard R.
• Sockwell Smith, Sally
• Willett, Christopher G.

Locations

This service is available at:

• Durham Regional Hospital
  3643 Roxboro Road, Durham, NC 27704
• Morris Cancer Clinic
  Morris Building, 200 Trent Drive, Durham, NC 27710