Dr. Leroy Korb

Offering the latest technology in cancer treatment, the department of Radiation Oncology at Warren General Hospital’s Cancer Care Center works to heal patients suffering from this disease.

A cancer patient who is referred to Radiation Oncology will typically visit the center three times prior to beginning his or her radiation treatment. During the individual’s first visit, he or she will meet with the center’s Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Leroy Korb. This meeting will provide the doctor with the preliminary information he needs to begin treatment. For the patient’s next appointment, a CT Scan will be performed. The information from this procedure will then be sent to the center’s Eclipse Treatment Planning Station, where Dosimetrist Sue Krieger can perform a three-dimensional, virtual simulation of the patient’s treatment. With this simulation, the dosimetrist will be able to determine the medical dosage and procedures needed to treat the patient. Following this stage, the patient will return to the Cancer Care Center and take part in simulation verification. This helps to confirm that the treatment plan calculated by the dosimetrist fits the patient. After undergoing these three appointments, a patient is ready to receive treatment.

While undergoing treatment, the patient will report to the Cancer Care Center five days a week and receive a 15 to 20 minute radiation sessions. This routine will continue for 6 to 8 weeks, depending on the individual needs of the patient. During each session, the patient will register at the center’s front desk and then enter the dressing room. After being properly attired, the individual will then lay down on a mechanical bed called the patient support assembly. As he or she lies down, the patient will be placed under a linear accelerator that will apply an x-ray beam to the patient. To ensure proper treatment for each individual case, the accelerator features three different lasers and a total of six different energy levels. Also, the equipment operates under a “record and verify” system. This safeguard guarantees that if the accelerator is set at an unplanned level, the machine will not work. Additionally, the department’s staff utilizes the assistance of lead leaves and other shielding devices to ensure the safety of its patients as they undergo treatment. This preventive equipment is fabricated on site, in the center’s device lab.

For men diagnosed with prostate cancer, Radiation Oncology offers Brachytherapy. This treatment is a minimally invasive procedure that implants small radioactive seeds that are about the size of a grain of rice into the prostate. Once implanted, these seeds irradiate the cancer from inside the gland, emitting localized radiation for a number of months. The seeds are so small that they cause no discomfort and are left in place following implementation. Brachytherapy is an option for patients with organ-confined prostate cancer. The treatment is a relatively short procedure, usually lasting 1-2 hours. Recovery typically requires only a day or less, and most men return to their normal activities within a few days.

To provide its patients with quality treatment, the Radiation Oncology department employs a well-qualified staff. Radiation Oncologist Dr. Leroy J. Korb, who is board certified by the American Board of Radiology, heads the department. This staff features a full-time Registered Nurse, three radiation therapists, a technical aide, a dosimetrist, and a board-certified medical physicist.

In addition to the services it provides at the cancer center, the Radiation Oncology department is also active in the community. Every year the department hosts the “Celebration of Life” Picnic. The event provides past and present-cancer patients, and their families, with an opportunity to relax and enjoy a beautiful autumn day in Warren County together.

To schedule an appointment with the Radiation Oncology department at WGH’s Cancer Care Center, please call (814) 723-7906. Appointments are available Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.