HOUSE CALL: Cancer patients have treatment option of TomoTherapy

Written by Hayden Killian on October 18, 2011 – 2:57 am

Approximately 66 percent of all cancer patients will typically receive radiation therapy treatments combined with some form of chemotherapy or surgical removal of their tumor.

Radiation therapy for today’s cancer patient offers the most cutting-edge technology and advancements than ever before. Most often times, patients don’t realize the level of care that is available to them. This is especially true when it comes to radiation treatments delivered using the Tomotherapy machine.

This form of highly intensified modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) integrates treatment planning, patient positioning and treatment delivery into one system. Due to the fact that many tumors may shift positions daily, each Tomotherapy treatment is carefully planned and adjusted daily as needed.

The ability of the machine to pinpoint the tumor allows for a higher concentration of radiation directed to the tumor itself. A higher dose of radiation statistically increases the possibility of cancer remission or shrinkage of the tumor.

Prostate cancer patients, especially, are able to benefit from precisely targeted radiation to the site, thus avoiding unnecessary radiation exposure to other nearby organs. By avoiding the normal structures of the pelvis, side effects, such as bleeding or chronic diarrhea, can be greatly diminished.

The TomoTherapy machine allows the physician to capture detailed images of the prostate every day before treatment. Before this image guidance technique was available, doctors relied on weekly radiographs to check a patient’s position. This weekly radiograph technique gives only a two-dimensional image of the patient while with the Tomotherapy machine, the physician actually “sees” the patient’s cross sectional anatomy every day.

During the actual treatment, the machine uses a rotating beam of radiation to target the exact size and shape of your cancer. The radiation field rotates 360 degrees while you lay on a table that moves through the machine. Conventional machines can only deliver radiation from just a few limited directions, but with the TomoTherapy machine small beams of radiation can be delivered from every point on a spiral. Think about that accuracy.

Patients typically receive TomoTherapy treatments five days a week for eight weeks. Sessions take about 20 minutes, making it convenient for patients.

Unfortunately, not all facilities offer this level of expertise. Patients should ask their physician if this type of IMRT treatment option is suitable for their specific case and if the Tomotherapy machine is available at that facility. Remember that as a general rule, equipment inside a hospital is usually a much higher quality than those located at an off-site facility.

Dr. V. Rao Devineni is board certified in radiation oncology and the medical director of SSM Cancer Care at DePaul Health Center. His offices are located at 12303 DePaul Drive in the near the lobby of the East Medical Office Building. He can be reached at 314-344-6090. Visit for more information.

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