Centra's Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center Purchase new linear accelerator in an effort to continually provide innovative care to its patients.
The Centra Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center recently purchased a new radiotherapy system known as the Varian TrueBeam which increases precision and decreases treatment times. Its meticulous technology strengthens our ability to utilize different treatment modalities while delivering tailored interventions that are unique to each patient. Additionally, its fast treatment times and enhanced imaging help us improve outcomes and the patient’s experience during radiation therapy.
The Varian brand is a frontrunner in the world of radiation therapy, which means Centra can provide the communities of central Virginia the highest quality radiation treatment possible without the inconvenience of traveling to a larger city for treatment. The machine also possesses a respiratory gaiting system which facilitates precise tumor targeting while sparing surrounding healthy tissues and structures.
Amanda Bruffy, Director of Radiation Oncology and Oncology Nurse Navigation at the Centra Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center explained, “We can treat a left sided breast cancer while the patient takes in a deep breath, which inflates the lungs and increases the distance between the tumor and the heart while receiving radiation. The therapists walk the patient through this intricate treatment to ensure the treatment beam is directed at the target area during inspiration, when it is farthest away from vital structures.”
She went on to say, “This is called Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) Treatment, typically used for left sided breast cancers but with this technology we can treat additional body parts with tumors that can be moved with respiratory gaiting.”
Centra’s cancer center maintains a timely replacement schedule of its radiation oncology machines to ensure they are on a timetable that keeps our center on the cusp of treatment advances. By staying up to date with treatment models, we are able to provide technologically advanced treatment options close to home.
Amber Smith, Radiation Oncology Manager at the Centra Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center, summarized it well, “In essence, this machine just provides more of everything. It’s more precise, faster and offers greater treatment capabilities.”