Cancer Treatment Services

Radiation Oncology Centers of Ventura County provides the same technology offered at UCLA to patients in the Ventura County area. Both the Oxnard and Camarillo Centers offer a comprehensive and team management approach to cancer care.

What sets our Centers apart is the personal attention our patients receive. Our team works together to care for every aspect of a patient’s needs, including nurses who help coordinate your care and support resources for patients and their families in their own community. Our affiliation and proximity to St. John's Regional Medical Center accelerates the process of imaging and getting results. Advanced treatment includes state-of-the-art equipment and "treatment mapping" from a physicist.

Patients often comment that Dr. Montes and Dr. O'Connor spend time listening and answering their questions, giving them their attention and helping them make informed decisions regarding their treatment. Read some of the opinions of our satisfied cancer treatment patients.

We specialize in the treatment of lung, prostate, brain, breast, oral cavity, tongue, larynx and skin cancer. Our leading edge cancer treatments include:

• Radiation Therapy
• IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy) – advanced, precise technology
• 3-D Conformal Radiation Therapy
• Prostate Brachytherapy Radiation – temporary and permanent seed implant procedures
• High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy
• Breast High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy – Mammosite®, SAVI® and Contura®
• Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)

Treatment is administered by a radiation therapy team that includes a:

• Radiation Oncologist – provides comprehensive, personalized cancer treatment plan
• Radiation Physicist – monitors equipment and dosage
  
• Radiation Therapy Nurse – provides nursing care, helps educate patients about treatment and side effects
• Radiation Therapist – certified, licensed professionals delivering daily treatment

Typical Course
After a physical examination and consultation, patients receive a treatment simulation. During simulation, the patient lies on a radiation treatment table in the exact position he or she will be in during each treatment. The radiation therapist makes temporary marks on the skin to indicate the treatment area and takes X-rays from two separate angles. A radiation technologist obtains measurements and performs calculations to determine the amount of radiation. A CT scan may be obtained to assist with these treatment-planning calculations. The entire simulation process usually takes between 30 and 45 minutes.

Treatment typically begins about five days after simulation. Radiation treatment sessions typically take approximately five minutes, and are given Monday through Friday with Saturdays and Sundays off, over six weeks. The radiation oncologist meets with patients once a week to discuss care during radiation treatment, as well as any other issues of interest to the patient.

When radiation treatment is completed, the patient is evaluated regularly by all of the treating physicians. The typical course of follow-up includes an evaluation six weeks after completion of radiation therapy, and every six months during the first year.