MAYWOOD, IL – Tamer Refaat Abdelrhman, MD, PhD, MSCI, a radiation oncologist who treats head and neck, breast, prostate, gynecological and other cancers, has joined Loyola Medicine.
Dr. Abdelrhman will see patients at the new Loyola Center for Cancer Care & Research at the Palos South Campus in Orland Park, Illinois. The center is the first in Illinois to offer a MRI-guided radiation therapy that targets tumors with millimeter precision. The system, called MRIdian® Linac, delivers radiation precisely to the tumor, even if body functions such as breathing cause the tumor to move. The ultra-sharp beam of radiation minimizes damage to surrounding tissue.
Dr. Abdelrhman said MRIdian is an example of how new technology is making radiation therapy more effective, with reduced side effects. In many cases, treatments also are shorter. For example, the radiation treatment regimen for prostate cancer has decreased from eight weeks to as short as five days in selected patients.
"Since I began practicing 17 years ago, I have seen how fast-evolving technology is significantly improving treatments for patients," Dr. Abdelrhman said.
Dr. Abdelrhman said a diagnosis of cancer is very frightening, and every patient reacts differently.
"I take the time to listen carefully to my patients," Dr. Abdelrhman said. "I describe in fine detail the type and stage of cancer and explain treatment options, side effects and outcomes. Every patient is unique and every treatment plan is different."
Dr. Abdelrhman is an associate professor in the department of radiation oncology of Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. He has published more than 25 research papers in peer-reviewed journals and is board certified in radiation oncology.
Dr. Abdelrhman is president of the Cancer Fellows Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that provides training to accelerate the availability of radiation oncology expertise in areas where it's needed the most.
Dr. Abdelrhman comes to Loyola from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, where he was an adjunct associate professor of radiation oncology, and the Leonard C. Ferguson Cancer Center at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport, Illinois.
Dr. Abdelrhman earned medical and PhD degrees from the University of Alexandria in Egypt. He completed a residency in radiation oncology at the University of Alexandria and fellowships in radiation oncology at Lille II University in France, Vienna Medical School in Austria and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He also earned a master of science in clinical investigations from Northwestern.