Overview
Valentis Cancer Hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art radiotherapy equipment. Radiation oncology is a branch of medical specialty that uses ionizing radiation in the form of x-rays to treat cancer patients and some noncancerous conditions.
What Is TomoTherapy System In Cancer Treatment?
The TomoTherapy System is intended to deliver image-guided, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IG-IMRT) for the treatment of cancer and other diseases in a safe and routine manner. The integration of a computed tomography (CT) scanner to perform daily imaging before each treatment session distinguishes the TomoTherapy System from conventional radiation systems.
The daily imaging capability allows clinicians to detect and correct for changes in patient positioning, tumor changes, or other factors such as weight gain or loss, ensuring the continued precise as well as safe delivery of the radiation dose to the target area. Because the TomoTherapy System's precision reduces radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.
Many doctors report that their patients have fewer side effects than patients who receive traditional forms of radiation therapy.
Because of the precision, the TomoTherapy System may be used to treat patients who have previously received radiation therapy if their cancers have returned using the re-treatment functionality.
Why Is Precision Important?
- Radiation beams must pass through the body to reach and exit the treatment area.
- The system's design limits the angles from which radiation can be delivered.
- Some radiation may affect healthy tissue near the tumor due to movement during treatment.
How Does Tomotherapy Work?
Tomotherapy delivers continuous radiation from 360 degrees around the patient or clinician-specified beam angles. These distinguishing characteristics, when combined with daily 3D image guidance, enable physicians to deliver highly accurate, individualized dose distributions that precisely conform to the shape of the patient's tumor while minimizing the dose to normal, healthy tissue, resulting in fewer side effects for patients. The system aids in the treatment of all standard radiation therapy indications, including breast, prostate, lung, and head and neck cancers, as well as complex treatments like total marrow irradiation.
Key Benefits Of The TomoTherapy System For Cancer Patients
Superior Tumor Control
Daily imaging allows doctors to see tumor shrinkage daily, enabling them to limit the dose to the tumor/cancer rather than healthy tissue. This results in fewer complications and far superior tumor control.
Accurate Treatment for Patients with Implants
Low CT imaging dose with iterative imaging enables patients with metal implants (dentures, pacemakers, orthopedic implants) to receive highly accurate treatments, as imaging can be performed without artifacts.
High Local Tumor Control & Organ Protection
High local tumor control with low dose to healthy tissue and normal organs such as eyes, lungs, heart, kidneys, parotid glands, and other vital organs.
High Survival Rate & Targeted Treatment
High survival rate with fewer radiation complications or side effects. Targeted treatments become a reality as dose is restricted to the tumor.
Safe for Complex & Pediatric Cases
Fewer radiation complications or side effects. Even complicated and pediatric treatments can be performed with confidence.
Size Of The Treatment Field
Due to late diagnosis, large-field cancer is common, and patients frequently end up with large tumors/cancers or at multiple sites:
- Without a junction, there is no overlapping dose, resulting in highly conformal treatments and fewer complications and side effects due to high doses to healthy tissue or organs in the case of regular linac-based treatment.
- The most complex treatment needs are straightforward, with a simplified workflow, resulting in high patient comfort and far superior outcomes.
This is an important requirement in the region because, according to reports, the majority of patients in the region require large-field treatments due to the following factors:
- The region has a low cancer detection rate, with only 20-30% of cancers diagnosed in stages 1 and 2.
- The region has a higher incidence of prostate, H&N, lung, breast, and GI cancers, accounting for up to 80-90% of cancer in the region, and TomoTherapy has far superior treatment results in these areas.
- Brain cancers and benign brain tumors
- Head, neck, and oral cancers
- Breast cancers, including inflammatory breast disease (both unilateral & bilateral)
- Lung cancers and lung tumors
- Skin cancers
- Prostate cancer, from early-stage to advanced disease
- Oesophageal and upper gastrointestinal cancers
- Cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar cancers
- Colon, stomach, rectal, and anal cancers