UCLA Journal of Radiation Oncology APRIL 2023 - Flipbook - Page 41
UCLA RADIATION ONCOLOGY JOURNAL
What radiation oncology therapies does the
Santa Clarita community cancer clinic offer?
“We have the full range of radiation oncology
techniques and technologies,” Dr. Xiang says.
“These includes stereotactic body radiation
therapy (SBRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery
(SRS), which both use ultra-precise, targeted
radiation beams to destroy the tumor while
minimizing exposure of surrounding tissues.” He
notes that the center also has the Ethos system,
which adapts radiation in real-time in response
to patient position and anatomy and may offer
unique advantages for selected cases based on
tumor location and proximity to nearby tissues.
How does receiving cancer treatment locally
differ from receiving care at a UCLA Health
hospital?
“It really doesn’t,” Dr. Xiang says. “We have the
same caliber of physicians and technologies here.
Our patients have access to almost all the clinical
trials happening at the main campus. In addition,
our physicians communicate regularly with the
hospital specialists, and we share the same tumor
boards (groups of specialists who confer on patient
treatment plans).” Receiving treatment locally
also benefits patient quality of life. “Radiation and
other cancer therapies can cause fatigue and can
continue over the course of weeks,” Dr. Xiang says.
“To not have to worry about the distance, traffic
and parking involved with traveling to the hospital
is a great benefit for patients in this community.”
procedures, which use various energy sources
to ablate cancerous tumors,” Dr. Xiang says. A
genetic counselor also works in the clinic, as
does a social worker from the Simms/MannUCLA Center for Integrative Oncology to provide
education, counseling, guidance and a wide range
of interactive programs to ease the burden on
patients and their families.
What else should people know about the UCLA
Santa Clarita community cancer clinic?
“UCLA is an oncology powerhouse. We are ranked
No. 1 in California and No. 5 in the nation,” Dr.
Xiang says. “Patients treated locally benefit
from the full resources of UCLA while enjoying
the convenience of nearby care. Between our
clinic on Tourney Road and other UCLA Health
facilities in Santa Clarita, UCLA is able to
provide comprehensive primary and specialty
care, including internal medicine, pediatrics,
dermatology, urology, ENT, gastroenterology,
pulmonology and rheumatology. Our physicians
collaborate closely with one another and with
colleagues throughout the system. This makes care
in Santa Clarita very integrated and accessible.” ☐
For more information about
UCLA Health radiation oncology in
Santa Clarita, go to:
uclahealth.org/locations/santa-clarita-radiation-oncology
What other oncology services are available at the
UCLA Santa Clarita community cancer clinic?
The clinic provides treatment for all cancer
types and offers a full suite of services, including
medical oncology and cancer surgery. An infusion
center and a complete range of diagnostic
radiology services — including PET, CT, MRI
and mammography screening — are located onsite. “Through our colleagues in interventional
radiology (IR), we’re even able to offer some IR
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