The Department of Radiation Oncology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital offers one of the largest radiation programs for cancer treatment in the Delaware Valley, giving more than 60,000 radiation treatments annually. Offering the most modern, comprehensive cancer therapies currently available, Jefferson’s Department of Radiation Oncology specialists are among the country’s most respected and accomplished professionals.

Seminomas are highly sensitive to radiation. Following surgery, men with seminomas typically undergo external radiation therapy to their abdominal lymph nodes.

With external radiation treatment, a high-energy beam is directed at the tumor site for a few minutes during each treatment over a period of weeks. The dose of radiation and the number of treatments depend on the size and type of tumor, your general health and any other treatment you are receiving.

We start by creating a customized radiation treatment program. Treatment planning precedes actual treatment and determines the best way to position your body on the radiation therapy machine. Our goal is to maximize radiation exposure to malignant cells, while minimizing exposure to normal cells.

Radiation treatments are much like having an X-ray, except that they take a few minutes longer. Each treatment lasts less than five minutes. A typical radiation therapy program lasts five days a week for five to seven weeks. Our physicians will meet with you at least once a week during this time to determine both your progress and tolerance of the treatments.

Nonseminomas are somewhat less sensitive to radiation. Patients with this type of testicular cancer usually receive other types of treatment.

Your Choice of Five Convenient Radiation Treatment Locations
For your convenience, Jefferson's Kimmel Cancer Center offers radiation therapy at five locations around the Delaware Valley. Click on the link above for a list of those locations.