 In
2006, the St. Joseph Cancer Center expanded its services and its
space. A
construction enlarged the facility by 50 percent to accommodate
state-of-the-art radiation equipment and therapies.
The new space features Washington’s first TomoTherapy unit.
TomoTherapy is a
revolutionary innovation in radiation therapy that allows
physicians to deliver more customized, precise radiation therapy
by using 3D imaging and computerized tomography (CT scanning).
This more precise delivery minimizes damage to healthy tissue or
organs surrounding the cancerous tumor.
“The Cancer Center is excited to offer patients this new
radiation therapy option,” said Ian Thompson, MD. “Not every
patient will need this kind of sophistication. But when they do,
it can enhance both survival and quality of life
after treatment, and now it will be available in our own
community.”
TomoTherapy can be used to treat a variety of tumors, but has
proven most effective in treating tumors on the head, neck, back
and prostate. The St. Joseph Cancer Center TomoTherapy program
began in August 2006.
“The benefits of this new radiation treatment over
traditional radiation is that physicians can adjust the size,
shape and intensity of the radiation beam to target the
radiation to the size, shape and location of the patient’s tumor
throughout the treatment process,” Karen Ssebanakitta, Director
of the St.
Joseph Cancer Center said. “The is especially valuable because
some tumors can change shape or shift position.” |
