Given the pace at which life moves, the concept of time can be a tricky thing. For example, with technology, 10 years typically encompasses several generations of upgrades, improvements, and new abilities that were previously unimaginable.
This is especially true of medical technology. What was state-of-the-art in the early 2000s has become old technology, ready to be replaced by the newest innovations to help diagnose, treat, and cure patients.
Case in point: The Community Cancer Center, as part of its overall plan to upgrade, update, and add to its facility to better serve cancer patients in Central Illinois, has phased out the Cyberknife, state-of-the-art in 2003, and installed the latest innovation in stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy — the TrueBeam STx system.
The distinctive ability of Cyberknife, and other machines like it, was that it could perform stereotactic radiosurgery. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) refers to a non-invasive treatment that uses high doses of radiation to treat cancer. “Stereotactic” refers to the 3-D coordination of the radiation beams with diagnostic images to treat the cancerous target. Dr. Shermian Woodhouse, Medical Director of the Community Cancer Center says, “I explain SRS as using radiation the way a surgeon would use a knife. Multiple radiation beams from different directions focus on a small, very specific target.” The radiation prevents the cancerous cells from growing, eventually causing them to die and the tumor to shrink.
Joe Prosser, Executive Director of the Community Cancer Center, adds, “The huge benefit to SRS is the ability to treat tumors and lesions in areas of the body that are difficult to access via traditional surgical methods — the brain and spine, for example.” Over the years, physicians started using SRS for other types of cancer in other areas of the body.
As technology advanced over the years, the Cyberknife was upgraded until it was no longer upgradable — it had hit its technological limit and was as advanced as it could be. It became clear that it was time to usher in the newest technology in order to treat patients most effectively and efficiently. Machines touting the newest technology, such as TrueBeam, became the logical choice for treating patients most effectively and efficiently.
The TrueBeam has taken what the Cyberknife could do and improved it exponentially. TrueBeam is more efficient, as it synchronizes the radiation beams to a real-time image of the tumor so that the radiation is very precise, minimizing the exposure to surrounding healthy cells. The radiation beams can be shaped to accurately match the shape of the tumor, which also diminishes exposure to healthy cells. The real-time image allows the therapist to adjust the beams as needed — even to adjust for the patient’s breathing.
TrueBeam also has the ability to deliver higher doses of radiation up to 50 percent faster, so treatments that used to take an hour and a half now take only minutes. “This benefits patients because they receive a higher dose of radiation, but are on the table for a shorter time,” explains Prosser. Faster delivery also improves precision because there is less time for tumor and patient motion during dose delivery.
An additional benefit of the TrueBeam is that not only does it do what the Cyberknife does, and does it better as far as radiosurgery, it can also be used for conventional radiotherapy treatments. “The TrueBeam will be more cost effective for us, as it is somewhat of a ‘hybrid’ of two machines,” says Dr. Woodhouse. “In effect, the TrueBeam is replacing a standard radiation machine and the Cyberknife, and gives us even more capabilities in both types of treatments.”
Treatment with the TrueBeam STx begins in April. The Community Cancer Center has five full-time licensed radiation therapists who will be able to treat more patients in less time and with better results. “We are excited to be taking advantage of the new advances in radiosurgery and radiotherapy that the TrueBeam offers,” says Dr. Woodhouse. It’s all part of the Community Cancer Center’s ongoing plan to provide state-of-the-art care for patients in the most cost effective, efficient, innovative, and beneficial way possible.
The Community Cancer Center is located at 407 E. Vernon Ave., Normal. Information about the Cancer Center and its services are available by calling 309-451-8500 or by visiting www.cancercenter.org.