Gibson Cancer Center Introduces Low Dose Radiation Therapy for Osteoarthritis Patients

Gibson Cancer Center’s radiation therapy clinical team includes, from left, Nurse Practitioner Hannah Peevy, Lead Radiation Therapist Angie Horton, Radiation Oncologist Sunjay Barton, MD, and Staff Radiation Therapist Tisha Hiner.

Gibson Cancer Center, part of UNC Health Southeastern, is now offering Low Dose Radiation Therapy as a non-surgical treatment option for patients suffering from painful osteoarthritis, particularly in the hands, hips, and knees.

Low Dose Radiation Therapy uses very small, precisely targeted doses of radiation to help reduce inflammation and pain in affected joints.

Seventy to 80 percent of patients who undergo the treatment for osteoarthritis experience reduced pain and improved joint function for up to two years.

“If you are 45 years or older and you have usage-related joint pain, meaning pain in one of your joints that is worsened by movement of that joint, and you have morning stiffness that lasts 30 minutes or less, then you most likely have osteoarthritis,” said Sunjay Barton, MD, Radiation Oncologist at Gibson Cancer Center. “Radiation therapy is an evidence-based treatment that can reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis if you have tried physical therapy, splinting, topical anesthetic gels, and you have either tried corticosteroid injections or you want to avoid the invasive procedures that come along with corticosteroid injections.

“In the case of knees, if you have been evaluated for replacement and are either not a good candidate or would like to try something less invasive first, then radiation therapy is a good option,” Dr. Barton added. “Here at Gibson Cancer Center, we are starting to offer this treatment to patients who have symptoms in the hands, hips, and knees, and we plan to expand the indications to include the cervical spine (neck) and lumbar spine (low back) as we evaluate the effectiveness of those treatments.”

Low Dose Radiation Therapy for osteoarthritis is a non-surgical, non-invasive treatment that is delivered entirely on an outpatient basis. Treatments are typically painless and are completed in a series of short sessions over the course of one to two weeks, allowing patients to return home immediately after each visit and continue their usual daily activities with minimal disruption.

While radiation therapy is traditionally associated with cancer care, low dose radiation has been used in other countries for degenerative joint disease for many years, and Gibson Cancer Center is among a growing number of centers in the United States to offer this evidence-based approach for carefully selected patients.

Candidates typically have diagnosed or suspected osteoarthritis in the hands, hips, or knees and continue to experience symptoms despite other treatments. Low Dose Radiation Therapy may also be appropriate for patients who have already tried corticosteroid injections or who wish to avoid invasive procedures such as injections or surgery.

Each patient undergoes a thorough evaluation by the radiation oncology team to determine whether Low Dose Radiation Therapy is appropriate and safe.

“Low Dose Radiation Therapy does not cure osteoarthritis or reverse joint damage, but it can significantly reduce pain and improve function for many patients,” Dr. Barton added.

Patients and referring providers who would like to learn more or schedule a consultation at Gibson Cancer Center, 1200 Pine Run Drive, Lumberton, can call (910) 671-5730. For additional information about Gibson Cancer Center and its services, visit https://www.unchealthsoutheastern.org/care-treatment/cancer/.