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Cancer care (43)
What is TrueBeam?
The new TrueBeam™ system from Varian Medical Systems is the latest and one of the most advanced radiotherapy technologies in the world for treating cancer. Developed from the ground up it optimizes both radiotherapy and radiosurgery treatments. TrueBeam delivers more flexible cancer treatments with pinpoint accuracy and precision, ease and speed.
What types of cancers will TrueBeam treat?
TrueBeam can treat cancers anywhere in the body, where radiation treatment is indicated. TrueBeam technology opens the door to new possibilities for the treatment of challenging cases such as cancers in the lung, breast, abdomen, and head and neck as well as other cancers that are treatable with radiotherapy. Check with your doctor to see if TrueBeam treatment is appropriate for your specific cancer.
How does TrueBeam work?
TrueBeam rotates around the patient to deliver a prescribed radiation dose from nearly any angle. It combines imaging, beam delivery and sophisticated RapidArc technology to accurately and precisely target tumors with great speed. Real-time imaging tools allow clinicians to "see" the tumor they are about to treat and respiratory gating enables clinicians to synchronize beam delivery with patient respiration.
What specific treatment techniques can I deliver with the TrueBeam?
- TrueBeam can be used for many forms of advanced treatment techniques including image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and RapidArc® radiotherapy technology. Because of this, patients can receive the radiotherapy treatment that is best suited for their specific clinical circumstances.
- The TrueBeam™ STx system is a radically new solution that is faster and more powerful, giving clinicians the ability to navigate the complexities of cancer care with confidence, including challenging cases in the brain, spine, lung, liver and prostate. The system uses sophisticated imaging and respiration synchronization tools to visualize soft tissue during treatment and make changes accordingly. With new beam-shaping capabilities using the High-Intensity Mode, it enables the delivery of larger doses in smaller places. Now clinicians can perform radiosurgery procedures with exceptional ease and speed, with most treatments taking only a few minutes a day. TrueBeam STx—innovative, intelligent and intuitive.
Varian Medical Systems Introduces Revolutionary New TrueBeam™ System for High-Precision Image-Guided Radiotherapy and Radiosurgery
New technology enables a radical new approach that expands radiotherapy treatment options for even the most challenging cases
New York, NY - April 14, 2010 - Varian Medical Systems (NYSE:VAR) today is announcing the introduction of a new line of "super" accelerators designed to advance the treatment of lung, breast, prostate, head and neck, and other types of cancer. The TrueBeam™ platform for image-guided radiotherapy and radiosurgery is the first fully-integrated system designed from the ground up to treat a moving target with unprecedented speed and accuracy. Varian unveiled the new line last night at a special event conducted here for members of the cancer treatment community.
"We took everything clinicians told us they wanted to enable next-generation treatments, and we challenged ourselves to engineer a completely new treatment platform," said Tim Guertin, president and CEO of Varian Medical Systems. "TrueBeam is the culmination of those efforts." A TrueBeam system uses a completely re-engineered control system and a multitude of technical innovations to dynamically synchronize imaging, patient positioning, motion management, and treatment delivery. "It opens the door to the development of new and improved approaches for treating cancer and other medical conditions commonly treated with image-guided radiotherapy and radiosurgery," Guertin said. "We've also given TrueBeam a patient-friendly look with a beautiful sleek design, but it's what's under the covers that makes this system so special. It's intuitive, intelligent, and we think it is a game changer."
Designed to be a versatile platform, a TrueBeam system can be used for all forms of advanced external-beam radiotherapy including image-guided radiotherapy and radiosurgery (IGRT and IGRS), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and RapidArc® radiotherapy. The product line includes TrueBeam STx, specially configured for advanced radiosurgery.
Faster, More Precise Systems
A TrueBeam system can deliver treatments up to 50 percent faster with a dose delivery rate of up to 2400 monitor units per minute, double the maximum output of earlier, industry-leading Varian systems. This makes it possible to offer greater patient comfort by shortening treatments, and to improve precision by leaving less time for tumor motion during dose delivery.
"Intelligent" automation further speeds treatments with an up to five-fold reduction in the number of steps needed for imaging, positioning and treating patients. A standard intensity-modulated treatment that would typically take ten minutes can be completed in less than two minutes. Complex radiosurgery that typically takes 40 minutes to an hour, can be completed in just 5 to 20 minutes. "When we introduced RapidArc® radiotherapy, we were thrilled to see treatments done in about 2 minutes," said Guertin. "With TrueBeam, RapidArc treatments can now be completed in about a minute."
The precision of a TrueBeam system is measured in increments of less than a millimeter. This accuracy is made possible by the system's sophisticated architecture, which establishes a new level of synchronization between imaging, patient positioning, motion management, beam shaping, and dose delivery technologies, performing accuracy checks every ten milliseconds throughout an entire treatment. Over 100,000 data points are monitored continually as a treatment progresses, ensuring that the system maintains a "true isocenter," or focal point of treatment
"This increased level of precision will make it possible for doctors to treat a moving lung tumor as if it were standing still," said Guertin. "By synchronizing treatment with tumor position changes throughout the respiratory cycle, doctors will be able to reduce the margin of healthy tissue affected by the treatment beam."
The TrueBeam system also delivers Varian's new 'gated' RapidArc radiotherapy, which compensates for tumor motion by synchronizing imaging with dose delivery during a continuous rotation around the patient. "This exciting new capability makes RapidArc an even more powerful tool for treating cancers of the thorax, such as lung and liver cancer, when tumor motion is an issue," Guertin said. Other innovations built in to the TrueBeam system include:
- A streamlined treatment console with a modern, graphical, easy-to-use interface that consolidates all controls for imaging, treatment, and motion management. Treatment processes and workflows are simplified and easy to learn, with prompts, messages, and a "follow the light" guidance system that enhances safety by guiding therapists through the steps of even the most complex treatments. "One button" IGRT enables the therapist to spend more time attending to the patient, and less time managing the technology.
- A newly-designed X-ray tube is optimized for generating high volumes of quality 3-D (cone-beam CT) images.
- These 3-D images can be generated in 60% less time, with a 25% reduction in X-ray dose to the patient.
- A treatment couch that can be positioned with sub-millimeter accuracy in relation to imaging and beam delivery processes.
- A unique new non-clinical Developer Mode designed to facilitate collaboration with Oncology thought leaders interested in pioneering new treatment and imaging techniques.
"With its many new unmatched capabilities, we've created a new breed of accelerator with the versatility to improve conventional treatments and at the same time support the clinical development of treatment innovations that offer patients more options for fighting their disease," said Guertin. "TrueBeam takes us a significant step closer towards our goal of helping to save 100,000 more lives each year."
Some of the motion management tools developed for the new TrueBeam system have been added to Varian's Trilogy platform and are being made available to customers with Clinac® iX accelerators. "As we develop new capabilities for this system, we'll use what we learn to continually enhance our full line of treatment solutions, ensuring that we can continue to offer the widest spectrum of advanced solutions for meeting our diverse customers' needs," Guertin said.
ABOUT VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS
Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California, is the world's leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, proton therapy, and brachytherapy. The company supplies informatics software for managing comprehensive cancer clinics, radiotherapy centers and medical oncology practices. Varian is a premier supplier of tubes and digital detectors for X-ray imaging in medical, scientific, and industrial applications and also supplies X-ray imaging products for cargo screening and industrial inspection. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 5,000 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, and China and approximately 79 sales and support offices around the world. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com.
RapidArc® radiotherapy technology is a major advance from Varian Medical Systems that improves dose conformity while significantly shortening treatment times. RapidArc delivers treatments two to eight times faster than our fastest dynamic treatments today and increases precision - a winning combination that enables physicians to improve the standard of care and treat more patients.
Volumetric modulated arc therapy
RapidArc is a volumetric arc therapy that delivers a precisely sculpted 3D dose distribution with a single 360-degree rotation of the linear accelerator gantry. It is made possible by a treatment planning algorithm that simultaneously changes three parameters during treatment:
- Rotation speed of the gantry
- Shape of the treatment aperture using the movement of multileaf collimator leaves
- Delivery dose rate.
Volumetric modulated arc therapy differs from existing techniques like helical IMRT or intensity-modulated arc therapy (IMAT) because it delivers dose to the whole volume, rather than slice by slice. And the treatment planning algorithm ensures the treatment precision, helping to spare normal healthy tissue.
Introduction
Organ conservation in the practice of Oncology has been a topic of hot debate in the western countries for the past few decades. At Chennai Cancer Care, we consider the practice of organ conservation wherever feasible without compromising the Control & Cure rates.There are a very few sites in Oncology where this practice could be considered without compromising the results with the added advantage of organ conservation. Those sites include Breast tumors, Head and neck tumors and Bone tumors.
Breast Conservation Therapy
This is made possible with availability of multimodal (or) multidisciplinary approach. Availability of latest Chemotherapy, Targeted therapy drugs, Surgical and Radiation Therapy expertise have done wonders in this modern era of medicine. Removal of the whole breast is not warranted or needed as this causes a major psychological impact in woman and studies point towards the fact that most women who undergo Modified Radical Mastectomy (MRM) or Removal of breast had a sense of feeling that they have lost the feminity in them, whereas some consider loss of breast, a social taboo and reduced their social activities. All these psychological facts point towards BCT and its advantage
Head and Neck Tumors
The commonest sites in head and neck, where organ conservation could be considered are buccal mucosa, tongue and laryngeal cancers. Removal of a portion of tongue will impair the person's speech. Removal of Vocal Cords will impair the person's voice pattern or quality of voice whereas conserving these organs and with radiation therapy to these sites, results were comparable to that of Surgical Excision. Interstitial implants or Brachytherapy is a standard practice in early stage Oral cavity or Pharyngeal malignancies.
Ancient treatment technique like Interstitial Brachy therapy with modern refinement - High dose rate (HDR) Brachytherapy, has revolutionized cancer therapy. In Brachy therapy implants, Radioactive sources are placed at the tumor site or tumor bed to deliver a Booster Dose to that site which in turn increases the Tumor local control rates and hence Tumor free survival
Interstitial Brachy Therapy
Dr.S.Alex A Prasad has specialized in Brachytherapy and is the only Brachytherapist trained in Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai & The Christies Hospital, Manchester, UK.
Bone Tumors and organ Conservative Approach
Organ (limb) conservation has been made possible without altering the tumor control rates. The most common bone tumors treated in this part of our country are Osteosarcoma and Ewings Sarcoma which usually affect the adolescent age group. Should we not consider the option of limb conservation considering the age?
- Doctors pharmacy is a sister concern of Chennai Cancer Care. We at Doctors pharmacy are wholesalers & Retailers for cancer drugs.
- Monoclonal antibodies have revolutionised many aspects of biology and medicine since their description in 1976. There are two major reasons. The first is that monoclonal antibodies are poised to break new ground, as therapeutic agents.
- Doctors Pharmacy – assures you of Original, Quality Medicines because one should be aware of Duplicate drug rackets involving Chemotherapy drugs.
- Chemotherapy drugs, Targeted therapy drugs, Nutrition supplements specifically used in cancer management, Immunotherapy & supportive therapy drugs are available in Doctors Pharmacy.
- You can call and inform us about your requirements – we shall deliver it at your door step.
- Doctors Pharmacy is run by Doctors.
ADDRESS
| PNo: 107A, New Avadi Road, Kilpauk, Chennai – 600 010 Phone: 044-42858850, 044-42858050, 8939855577 |
For Order & Home Delivery :+91 90 9444 0304, 044 4285 8850 |
Branch Address |
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No.2/2028 H block |
New no 34, Old no 92 |
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What is Brachytherapy?
- Brachytherapy is an advanced cancer treatment. Radioactive seeds or sources are placed in or near the tumor itself, giving a high radiation dose to the tumor while reducing the radiation exposure in the surrounding healthy tissues. The term "brachy" is Greek for short distance. Brachytherapy is radiation therapy given at a short distance: localized, precise, and high-tech.
How Does HDR Brachytherapy Work?
- With High-Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy, thin catheters are first placed in the tumor. The catheters are then connected to an HDR afterloader. This machine contains a single highly radioactive iridium pellet at the end of a wire. The pellet is pushed into each of the catheters one by one under computer control.
- The computer controls how long the pellet stays in each catheter (dwell time), and where along the catheter it should pause to release its radiation (dwell positions). With a few well-placed catheters in the tumor, HDR brachytherapy can provide a very precise treatment that takes only a few minutes. After a series of treatments, the catheters are removed, and there are no radioactive seeds left in the body.
SURGICAL MANAGEMENT
- Surgery is complete or partial removal of tumor. It provides the best chance to stop many types of cancer, and it also plays a part in diagnosing, staging, and supporting cancer treatment. Chemotherapy is treatment of cancer with drugs that can destroy cancer cells. These drugs often are called "anticancer" drugs.
- Surgery for cancer is different for every patient, depending on the type of cancer, and the patient's health
MODERN THERAPIES
- Immunotherapy The use of drugs that enhance the body's immune system and enable to kill cancer cells. Immunotherapy treats the whole body and is useful for targeting cancer that may have spread. Eg: Alpha Interferon - Interferon is now used to treat several different types of cancer. Chemotherapy is treatment of cancer with drugs that can destroy cancer cells. These drugs often are called "anticancer" drugs.
- Surgery for cancer is different for every patient, depending on the type of cancer, and the patient's health
WARNING SIGNALS OF CANCER
- Change in bowel or bladder habits.
- A sore that does not heal, especially in the mouth or a white patch in the mouth.
- Unusual bleeding or discharge per vagina.
- Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing.
- Obvious change in wart or mole.
- Nagging cough or hoarseness.
CHEMOTHERAPY
- Our Team, includes the Oncologist, Specially skilled Staff nurse, Perfusionist and the Lab Technologist. We at Chennai Cancer Care specialize in Chemo-Targeted Therapy administration with highest degree precaution to improve Tumor control rates and reduce adverse effects
- Chemotherapy is treatment of cancer with drugs that can destroy cancer cells. These drugs often are called "anticancer" drugs.
- The underlying principle of chemotherapy is to kill the cancer cells by treating with chemicals that interfere with the process of cell division, thus stopping them from growing or multiplying.
Chemotherapy is given for the following reasons:
- Cure – To cure the cancer so that it disappears
- Control – If cure is not possible, chemotherapy aims to control the growth and spread of cancer.
- Palliation – If cure and control are not possible, chemotherapy is given to relieve symptoms caused by the cancer.
- Chemotherapy is used to treat different types of cancer. The type, location, and stage of the cancer as well as your general health will largely determine if chemotherapy is appropriate and which agents ought to be used.
RADIATION THERAPY
- At Chennai Cancer Care, we provide Linear Accelerator based Radiation Therapy. Modern & Special Targeted treatments like IMRT [Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy], IGRT [Image Guided Radiation Therapy]. These special Targeted treatments use precisely targeted high-energy rays to kill cancer cells.
- Radiotherapy is usually required for the following reasons: As a stand-alone treatment to cure cancer.
- To shrink a cancer before surgery.
- To reduce the risk of a cancer coming back after surgery.
- To complement chemotherapy. To control symptoms and improve quality of life if a cancer is too advanced to cure.
- At Chennai cancer Care, specially trained staff nurses administer these drugs under constant surveillance. Administration of Targeted therapy drugs need special care & attention and cannot be
- Monoclonal antibodies have revolutionised many aspects of biology and medicine since their description in 1976. There are two major reasons. The first is that monoclonal antibodies are poised to break new ground, as therapeutic agents.
- The development of genetic engineering techniques has allowed the creation of antibodies incorporating selected human and murine characteristics. These antibodies can thus bind effectively to the target antigen and also interact with human effectors mechanisms to kill the target cells.
- Monoclonal antibodies offer the potential for highly specific, targeted therapy of tumor, Monoclonal antibodies dominate many aspects of diagnostic medicine and promise to yield major therapeutic advances.
- Antibodies have evolved as a powerful weapon against Cancer cells.
- There are a very few sites in Oncology where this practice could be considered without compromising the results with the added advantage of organ conservation. Those sites include Breast tumors, Head and neck tumors and Bone tumors.
