When most people think about cancer treatment, they often picture major surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

While these traditional approaches remain vital in the fight against cancer, an innovative field called interventional radiology (IR) is revolutionizing how we treat many cancers with minimally invasive techniques.

At Tanner Health, we're proud to introduce our new comprehensive Interventional Radiology program. This advanced service brings cutting-edge cancer treatments closer to home for patients throughout west Georgia and east Alabama. But what exactly is interventional radiology? How is it changing cancer care?

What is interventional radiology?

Interventional radiology is a medical specialty that uses advanced imaging technology (such as X-rays, CT scans, ultrasound and MRI) to guide tiny instruments through blood vessels and organs to diagnose and treat disease without traditional surgery. Interventional radiologists are highly trained physicians who can perform complex procedures through a pinhole-sized incision.

For cancer patients, this means treatments that once required major surgery can now often be performed on an outpatient basis with less pain, fewer complications and significantly faster recovery times.

Minimally invasive cancer treatments

Our new Interventional Radiology program at Tanner Health offers several advanced minimally invasive cancer treatments:

Tumor ablation

Ablation techniques use extreme temperatures to destroy cancer cells while sparing surrounding healthy tissue.

Options include:

• Cryoablation: Uses extreme cold to freeze and destroy tumors
• Microwave ablation: Employs electromagnetic waves to heat and eliminate cancer cells
• Radiofrequency ablation: Delivers high-frequency electrical currents to heat and destroy abnormal cells

These techniques can be effective for treating certain tumors in the liver, kidney, lung and bones, often with just a single treatment session.

Embolization therapies

Embolization procedures target tumors by controlling their blood supply:

• Chemoembolization: Delivers chemotherapy drugs directly to the cancer while blocking its blood vessels, trapping the medication inside the tumor for maximum effect
• Radioembolization (Y-90): Places tiny radioactive beads directly inside tumors to deliver radiation from within, minimizing exposure to healthy tissue

These targeted therapies can be especially valuable for liver tumors that cannot be removed surgically.

Benefits for cancer patients

The advantages of interventional radiology for cancer treatment include:

• Minimal incisions: Most procedures require only a pinhole-sized entry point
• Reduced recovery time: Many patients go home the same day and return to normal activities within days
• Less pain: Smaller incisions mean less post-procedure discomfort
• Fewer complications: Lower risk of infection and bleeding compared to traditional surgery
• Preservation of organ function: Healthy tissue is typically spared
• Reduced hospital stays: Many IR procedures are performed on an outpatient basis
• Options for patients who cannot undergo surgery: Provides treatment alternatives for those who are not surgical candidates

Who can benefit from these treatments?

Interventional radiology procedures can benefit many cancer patients, including:

• Those with tumors that cannot be safely removed with traditional surgery
• Patients seeking alternatives to major surgery
• Individuals with other health conditions that make surgery risky
• Patients whose cancer has not responded to standard treatments
• Those looking for complementary treatments to enhance other cancer therapies

The future of cancer care

The field of interventional oncology — using IR techniques to treat cancer — continues to advance rapidly. Newer technologies make treatments even more precise and effective while reducing recovery times and side effects.

At Tanner Health, we're committed to bringing these innovations to our community. Our new Interventional Radiology program means patients no longer need to travel to Atlanta or Birmingham for these advanced cancer treatments.

Your care, redefined

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, talk to your doctor about whether interventional radiology procedures might be appropriate for your treatment plan. These minimally invasive options are just one more way Tanner Health is redefining care for our community.