Radiotherapy is the mainstay of treatment for many cancers, because high energy x-rays or gamma rays can deliver an intense punch of energy into a tumor, killing off its cells. But many patients fear radiotherapy, because when the rays hit healthy tissue they can cause severe and long-lasting side effects. However, there are many new tools and technologies in radiotherapy which deliver an increasingly precise dose to a tumor, while sparing healthy surrounding tissue.  And, increasingly, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are used together in a well-planned treatment strategy that relies on the drugs making cancer cells even more sensitive to radiation.

One of the latest tools in radiotherapy, the CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery System, was unveiled at The London Clinic recently. The CyberKnife uses a robot to deliver high-dose radiotherapy with pinpoint precision to any part of the body. CyberKnife is truly innovative – it can allow doctors to zap tumors with radiotherapy secure in the knowledge that they are not harming their patient. The CyberKnife originated in the United States, where there are several systems already installed, and this new technology is also available elsewhere in Europe. But it is early days for CyberKnife. Once radiologists gain experience, and more hospitals invest in the technology, it’s to be hoped that an ever-increasing number of patients will feel the benefit. CyberKnife is the ‘jewel in the crown’ of The London Clinic’s brand new Cancer Centre, which has a specialist radiotherapy department for delivering the latest treatments. Staff and patients are also very proud of the Clinic’s Varian Trilogy ® System with a device called RapidArc™ which can deliver radiation directly into a tumor at a much greater speed than more conventional forms of radiotherapy. Meanwhile, radiotherapy researchers have made a great deal of progress in understanding how to shape and contour a radiotherapy beam so that it fits the tumor exactly and as it is at the time of treatment (because tumors can change position or shape between diagnosis and treatment). Moreover, radiotherapy is painless on delivery and can often spare the cancer patient the trauma of surgery to remove a tumor.

Source:

The London Clinic (www.thelondonclinic.co.uk) 20^th January 2010