News
KRMC Acquires Breakthrough Technology in the Fight Against Cancer
October 23, 2008
IMRT provides a highly-effective weapon in our fight against cancer. Its use will certainly result in more people who survive cancer and go on to live full productive lives.
To advance our fight against cancer, KRMC recently acquired new technology: intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) that provides a significant breakthrough in treating cancer. With this capability, clinicians can tailor a precise radiation dose to the shape and depth of a malignant tumor, while significantly reducing radiation doses to healthy tissue.
State-of-the-Art Cancer Treatment
While only available in a handful of institutions a decade ago, IMRT is now considered to be at the leading edge of radiation oncology. For the last two years, the KRMC Cancer Center has been gearing up to deliver this advanced treatment.
IMRT is a vast improvement over conventional radiation therapy, especially for cases where surrounding tissues and organs are highly susceptible to harm from radiation. The system includes a gantry-mounted linear accelerator with a multi-leaf collimator for delivering the radiation therapy. The multi-leaf collimator is a computer-controlled device that uses up to 120 tungsten "leaves" that move independently in and out of the path of the radiotherapy beams. The leaves shape the beams to conform to the exact tumor size and location.
Destroying Cancerous Cells While Protecting Healthy Tissue
In radiation oncology, our biggest hurdle is delivering an effective dose for destroying cancerous cells without harming healthy tissue. Shortly after the advent and clinical usage of megavoltage radiation, we discovered there was still a limit on the amount of dose that could be delivered to avoid damage to certain structures- especially those that are highly sensitive to radiation, such as the salivary glands, rectum, spinal cord, and small bowel.
IMRT concentrates several (sometimes more than a dozen) beams of radiation on the tumor. The beams are directed away from critical structures and through tissues that are more radio-resistant. This effectively boosts the dose to the target while minimizing trauma to the patient.
Offering Advanced Treatment Close to Home
IMRT therapy is usually delivered for 10-25 minutes, five days a week, over a course of five to eight weeks. Each individual treatment involves a complex customized treatment plan.
With KRMC's implementation of IRMT technology, our cancer patients can receive the benefits of this cutting-edge technology close to home and avoid travel over many weeks to an urban center.
For more information, contact the KRMC Cancer Center at 928-692-4665.
More about IMRT Therapy:
More about KRMC's Cancer Services:
- Cancer Center
- Cancer Screening/Testing
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation Therapy
- Cancer Support Services
