The Mid-Western Radiation Oncology Centre opened in October 2005 following a collaborative project between the HSE Mid-West, the Mid-Western Hospitals Development Trust and the Mater Private Hospital, who run the centre.

To date over 35,000 treatments have been delivered in the centre. All common cancer sites are treated, including radical treatment for prostate, breast, lung, head and neck, colorectal and gynaecological cancers. Palliative treatment is also available with priority access given as necessary.

Both public and private patients are treated at the Mid-Western Radiation Oncology Centre. The unit is well integrated into the Mid- Western Cancer Centre as well as to the main Regional Hospital.

Members of the team attend site specific multi-disciplinary meetings to agree the most appropriate patient care. From there the management of the patient is handed over to the dedicated, experienced staff in the Centre.

The addition of a second linear accelerator has improved patient access as well as introducing new treatment options for some cancer sites. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is now available to treat certain prostate patients. IMRT allows the radiation dose to more precisely target the three-dimensional shape of the tumor and deliver more effective doses of radiation. IMRT is considered to be one of the most significant technological breakthroughs in cancer treatment in the last 30 years.