Andrew Love Cancer Centre gets a boost from new technology
In April 2015, the Andrew Love Cancer Centre (ALCC) started delivering radiation to cancer patients on the centre’s new TrueBeam Linear Accelerator.
The machine has the ability to deliver RapidArc®, Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy and Stereotactic Radiosurgery. Rapid Arc® is an advanced radiation treatment where the machine moves around the patient and the field size changes and varies in strength whilst the treatment is being delivered.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy and Stereotactic Radiosurgery is one of the most advanced systems available in the world, and was previously only available in Melbourne. With these systems, high doses of radiation can be delivered safely and accurately in a shorter time frame than traditional treatments.
Although Stereotactic treatment is not suitable for all patients, it can be particularly useful for small, well defined tumours that cannot be removed surgically or treated with conventional radiotherapy. Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy can be used in the treatment of lung, brain, liver, kidney, spine or pelvic cancers.
Andrew Love Cancer Centre Senior Radiation Therapist, Sharyn Bowe, explained that RapidArc® was previously only available on one machine.
“The new TrueBeam Linear Accelerator greatly increases our capacity to treat with this technology. The new machine has been integrated well into the department and already carries a full workload of patients,” Sharyn said.
“RapidArc® results in shorter treatment times for patients, and high dose conformity. At the ALCC, RapidArc® is routinely used to treat prostate, oesophagus, anal and rectal cancer. Rapid Arc can also be used to effectively treat a range of other malignancies in different sites of the body for both radical and palliative patients.”
Radiation Therapist and Clinical Team Leader Tom Ffrench said he was excited that Truebeam not only allows staff to treat current patients with all modalities, but also offers the ability to treat Stereotactic patients in five to 10 minutes rather than 40 minutes.
“This vast decrease in treatment time for stereotactic treatments will result in a significant improvement in our accuracy - as patient movement during treatment will be greatly reduced,” Tom said.
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