Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center Unveils State-of-the-Art TrueBeam® Radiotherapy System Technology
Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center is proud to announce the installation of the state-of-the-art Varian TrueBeam® 4.1, a radiotherapy system that allows doctors to treat hard-to-reach tumors with unparalleled precision and minimal impact to surrounding healthy tissues. It is the latest in cutting-edge technology that uses high-energy photon (X-ray) beams or electron beams to precisely target and treat people with cancer, in addition to certain benign conditions and other abnormalities.
This new generation linear accelerator incorporates real-time imaging tools and rotating components to deliver a prescribed radiation dosage to a tumor from multiple angles. (A linear accelerator produces high-energy radiation, which is delivered to the patient’s tumor to kill cancer cells, while minimizing damage to surrounding tissue.) This particular linear accelerator is equipped with a 6-degree treatment couch, which provides translational movements in all six directions, improving accuracy, efficiency, and speed. Additionally, imaging processes are enhanced with higher resolution, faster acquisition times, and reduced normal anatomy exposure. This latest technology translates into faster treatments and better outcomes, along with greater patient comfort.
“We are excited and proud to bring the most advanced radiation therapy treatment system available to our patients and community. At Hunterdon Health, we are committed to ensuring our patients do not have to travel far from their home to receive the latest in cutting-edge technology,” stated Jill Pelonero, BA, R.T. (R)(T), Director of Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center.
Furthermore, treatment times can also be significantly reduced compared to older technologies, with some treatments taking as little as 2 to 10 minutes. With the addition of Varian’s IDENTIFY system, which utilizes surface guidance to monitor the patient’s skin surface through specialized cameras, patients are on the table for less time, resulting in faster, more accurate treatments, with patient safety and comfort at the forefront.