New TrueBeam™ system from Varian Medical Systems treats cancer faster, deals effectively with tumor motion and improves the patient experience.
TACOMA, WASHINGTON — June 1, 2018 Tacoma Valley Radiation Oncology Centers, with five locations in Pierce and Thurston Counties, has commenced treating cancer patients using the new TrueBeam system from Varian Medical Systems, an innovative medical technology that enables a radically different approach to treating cancer with image-guided radiotherapy. The new machine is located at the company’s St. Joseph Medical Center location. The physicians and staff treated patients using the company’s new system for the first time the third week of May 2018.
With dose delivery rates that are 40–140 percent higher than earlier generations of Varian technology, the TrueBeam system can complete a treatment commensurately faster. This makes it possible to offer greater patient comfort by shortening treatment times, and to improve precision by leaving less time for tumor motion during dose delivery. “Intelligent” automation further speeds treatments with an up to fivefold reduction in the number of steps needed for image guidance and dose delivery.
“TrueBeam makes it possible to deliver accurate image-guided treatments within a few minutes per day. At the same time, we can monitor and compensate for tumor motion, and that further increases treatment accuracy,” said Herbert Wang, M.D.
The TrueBeam imager can produce the three-dimensional images used to fine-tune tumor targeting in 60% less time than compared with previous Varian image-guided technologies. Additional functionality makes it possible to create images using 25% less X-ray dose. “Imaging is an essential part of modern-day, targeted radiotherapy,” explained Dr. Wang. “This machine allows us to minimize the amount of X-rays needed to generate an image—and that’s good for our patients.”
TrueBeam can be used for many forms of advanced treatments such as image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), including intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), RapidArc® radiotherapy technology and Gated RapidArc. “Each of these approaches is appropriate for a certain type of clinical situation,” said Michael McDonough, M.D. “With TrueBeam, we can choose the optimal approach for our patients.”
Tacoma Valley Radiation Oncology Centers
Serving the greater South Sound, Tacoma Valley Radiation Oncology Centers has provided state-of-the-art radiation treatment to patients in our community for over 35 years. Our offices provide the latest technology complemented with caring physicians and staff. We have four centers located in Pierce County with two in Tacoma, and one in Puyallup and Gig Harbor. Our fifth center is located in Olympia, Washington. To learn more about us and the services we provide you can visit us on the web at www.tacomaradiation.com.
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