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Healthy Living - Oncology
Oncology - We Are On The Map Again
Posted: Mar 7, 2011 9:14 AM
Updated: Mar 7, 2011 9:25 AM
From South Texas Comprehensive Cancer Centers
I sneeze, my competition gets a cold and their competition has pneumonia, and we all receive broad spectrum antibiotics!
The advanced technology in our community is amazing and puts Corpus Christi on the map time and time again. In our community, we have the large bore CT scanner for simulation for our friendly South Texas (TEXAS size) population and the CyberKnife in one of the major hospital systems. Hi-Art Tomo Therapy unit is the latest addition to the area and it completes the broad spectrum of treatments that our patients can experience.
In our radiation oncology world, we love to have whatever the better gadget is, that allows us to give less radiation to normal structures and the maximum dose that can be given to the tumor. Radiation for cancer treatment has been around for over 100 years, and 65 to 70% of patients with a solid tumor diagnosis require radiation therapy at some point in their treatment course.
The evolving technology is fascinating. The Hi-Art Tomo Therapy unit is a combination of advanced technology of both diagnostic and therapeutic radiology. Historically, we had in diagnostic radiology, a stationary X-ray machine and then a portable X-ray machine and we followed with CT scanners and on and on. In the radiation therapy world, we have gone from the KV Units to Cobalt therapy to linear accelerators, Gamma X-ray knife, Peacock system, CyberKnife and now, we have the Hi-Art Tomo Therapy unit.
This unit is a CT scanner that also provides radiation treatments. The CT that is done prior to every treatment through the treatment area is called the CTrue image. A single beam radiation is modulated into smaller beams which are delivered in a helical pattern. It is like multiple small windows that open around the tumor and close around the normal structures.
The real thrill for us as physicians is the ability to look at the CTrue image prior to every treatment and notice the change. Our patients do not have to travel long distances today, as Corpus Christi now has this state of the art unit to care for them.
Competition is good for the community and we will all receive the benefit, including those patients that are not insured and need help with their treatment and medication.
In order for you to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.
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