ELIZABETH, N.J., Jan. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- At the end of December,
Trinitas Comprehensive Cancer Center became one of the first cancer treatment
centers in the state of New Jersey to offer cancer patients treatment using
RapidArc(TM) radiotherapy technology from Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR).
RapidArc is a fast, precise form of treatment that is delivered two to eight
times faster than is possible with conventional radiation therapy
technologies. By delivering radiation doses more quickly and with great
accuracy, Trinitas clinicians can simultaneously improve the quality of care
while making patients more comfortable.
"We're very pleased to offer this technological advantage to our patients
at Trinitas," says Gary S. Horan, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer
of Trinitas Regional Medical Center. "This technology makes Trinitas
Comprehensive Cancer Center a regional leader in offering cancer patients
access to treatments that can improve outcomes by doing a better job of
sparing surrounding healthy tissue while delivering more powerful radiation
doses to tumors."
"Rapid Arc makes it possible for us to deliver highly-precise
intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) treatments quickly," said Dr. Lisa
Henson, Chair of Radiation Oncology at Trinitas. "These treatments target
tumors accurately while sparing the surrounding healthy tissues."
Rapid Arc is an image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)
treatment that takes about 90 seconds to deliver once a patient has been
positioned for treatment, which is markedly faster than other forms of
treatment, which can take up to 20 minutes or longer per session. During a
RapidArc treatment session, which is completed with one or multiple rotations
of the treatment machine around the patient, the radiation beam is continually
shaped and reshaped according to the size, shape, and position of the tumor in
the body. As a result, the delivery of radiation is many times faster than
with conventional treatment technologies.
According to Dr. Henson, because the treatment is fast, it is also easier
on the patient. "Patients who had difficulty holding still for long periods of
time, are now able to receive their treatment in less time, thereby allowing
us to improve quality of care while simultaneously making patients more
comfortable," she said.
Miguel Gomez, patient at Trinitas Cancer Center adds, "I am pleased that
my treatment was changed to RapidArc. This new technology is faster and lets
me complete each of my treatment sessions in under two minutes. Before I would
have to lay still for close to half an hour and there were times it was
uncomfortable and difficult for me. Now I am in and out quickly and back to my
daily routine."
RapidArc treatments at Trinitas are accomplished using the Trilogy(R)
linear accelerator from Varian. Trinitas was the first treatment center in New
Jersey to offer patient treatments on this state-of-the-art equipment back in
Fall 2005. The Trilogy machine was upgraded to deliver RapidArc treatments
using a beam-shaping device called a multi-leaf collimator (MLC). This device
has 120 computer-controlled mechanical "leaves" or "fingers" that move to
create apertures of different shapes and sizes. During a RapidArc treatment,
specialized software algorithms vary three parameters simultaneously: the
speed of rotation around the patient, the shape of the MLC aperture, and the
dose delivery rate.
About Trinitas Regional Medical Center
Trinitas Regional Medical Center (TRMC) is a major center for
comprehensive health services for those who live and work in Central New
Jersey. Offering 531 beds, Trinitas is distinguished by no fewer than ten
Centers of Excellence, which include: the Trinitas Comprehensive Cancer
Center; the Trinitas School of Nursing; the Center for Wound Healing &
Hyperbaric Medicine; the Sleep Disorders Center; cardiology services,
maternal/child health services; diabetes management; women's services, renal
care; behavioral health services, and senior services.
About Trinitas Comprehensive Cancer Center
Trinitas Comprehensive Cancer Center (TCCC) is located in a new
28,000-square-foot, five-story building on the campus of Trinitas Hospital.
The Center offers the most advanced technology available to cancer patients.
Board-certified physicians, nurses and allied health professionals are
passionate in their fight against cancer and their mission to provide
excellent patient care. Trinitas Comprehensive Cancer Center is an affiliate
of Aptium Oncology, a Los Angeles-based leader in building, developing and
managing comprehensive outpatient cancer centers.
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 4,900 people who are located at
manufacturing sites in North America and Europe and in its 60 sales and
support offices around the world. For more information, visit
http://www.varian.com/.
SOURCE Varian Medical Systems, Inc.