New Technology Offers More Focused Radiation Therapy with Fewer Side Effects
February 2003 — One of the most sophisticated cancer treatments in the world is now available at Memorial Healthcare System, providing patients with more focused radiation and less damage to healthy tissue.
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), a highly advanced treatment that focuses radiation on tumors, may be helpful in treating a variety of cancers. Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), a highly advanced treatment that focuses radiation on tumors, may be helpful in treating a variety of cancers. Clinical studies have shown that using IMRT to treat prostate cancer will allow for increasing the dose, which should mean better control of tumor growth and significantly reduce involvement of normal tissue.
"This is the next level of care in treating cancer," says Srinath Sundararaman, MD, radiation oncologist on the medical staff at Memorial Regional Hospital, Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, Memorial Hospital West and Memorial Hospital Pembroke. "In acquiring the IMRT system, Memorial Healthcare System has again shown its commitment to offer care for cancer patients."
A New Treatment Option
Memorial's Smart Beam™ IMRT system uses computer technology to break up radiation into tiny beams that attack the tumor from every side. Because the beams are tightly focused on the problem area, the radiation can be intensified up to 15 percent, improving the chances of successful treatment.
In addition, IMRT's precision means it can be used on tumors close to delicate organs, glands and tissue, making it a potentially valuable tool in fighting some cases of pancreas, brain, lung and breast cancer.
“This would be an ideal tool for a man with prostate cancer because we have to be careful about the radiation affecting nearby organs,” Dr. Sundararaman says. “Other people we could help with this are those who have head and neck cancers, when we’re trying to limit the dose of radiation to the salivary glands and preserve their function.”
If you are concerned about your personal cancer risk, see your physician. For a referral to a doctor in your area, call the Memorial Healthcare System Physician Referral Service at (800) 944-DOCS.