Martin Fuss, M.D.

"Cancer is a different experience for each of our patients; no two patients are exactly alike. In the new Radiation Medicine facility at OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, I am privileged to have the most modern and comprehensive radiation therapy tools and techniques available. Over the last three years, and through an investment of millions of dollars, OHSU has made an outstanding commitment to caring for the patients we serve. As a result, state-of-the-art individualized radiation therapy, tailored to the specific situation and need of every patient, helps cure many more patients today than in the past. Despite treating a veritable enemy, winning the fight against cancer one patient after another is extremely gratifying, and is more than enough motivation to keep searching for a cure."

Biography

Dr. Fuss is one of the pioneers of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in the United States. He is also one of the most experienced practitioners. SBRT is a modern radiation technique that destroys cancers without surgery. Radiation beams are focused on small tumors inside the body. Treatment takes five days or less, with high doses of radiation in each treatment. We take care to avoid damaging healthy tissue near the tumor. Dr. Fuss came to OHSU from the University of Texas at San Antonio, bringing his SBRT expertise to patients at OHSU. With this new treatment, cure rates for patients with early stage lung cancer who cannot have surgery for medical reasons have improved dramatically over the last decade. More than 85 percent of patients who have SBRT are cancer-free three years after treatment. This new treatment also controls the growth and spread of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), spinal tumors, and tumors of the kidney (renal cell carcinoma, or RCC). Dr. Fuss has almost 15 years of experience in delivering these specialize treatments. He is also experienced in using imaging studies of tumors to plan radiation treatment, and using imaging studies to guide radiation therapy. Dr. Fuss believes his meticulous attention to detail, certainly associated with the fact that he is German, contributes to favorable outcomes for his patients. He is a nationally and internationally recognized expert who is often asked to share his knowledge with other doctors in talks and training sessions.

Clinical Position

Vice Chairman, Department of Radiation Medicine

Education

• Degrees:
  M.D., University of Heidelberg, Germany
  Ph.D., University of Heidelberg, Germany
  
• Residency:
  Radiation Oncology, University of Heidelberg and the German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
• Fellowship:
  Proton Radiation Therapy, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, Calif.