Winston-Salem, N.C., Nov. 16, 2016 – When a patient is diagnosed with cancer, there are several options of treatment that physicians consider. Radiation is an effective treatment, but traditional radiation technology sometimes allows surrounding healthy tissue and organs to receive unneeded radiation in the process. In an effort to more precisely target radiation, three new radiation technologies are being administered at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center’s Derrick L. Davis Cancer Center.
According to the American Cancer Society, long-term side effects of radiation may include damage to the heart and lungs or even a second cancer.
One of the new technologies called deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) helps keep radiation away from the heart and lungs during treatments. Patients treated for certain cancers, especially breast cancer, are at high risk for radiation exposure to the heart and lungs because of their proximity to the tumor. With this device, patients wear a snorkel-like mouth piece and goggles that displays their breathing cycle and shows them when they need to inhale or hold their breath. Following calculated breathing helps move nearby vital organs out of way when the radiation dose is delivered.
Four-dimensional lung CT simulation is another tool radiation oncologists at Novant Health are using to more accurately track tumor movement. In contrast to traditional imaging that only captures the tumor during one point in the breathing cycle, 4-D CT captures breathing, tumor movement and the movement of organs with each breath. This added level of detail enables stronger doses of radiation to be delivered more precisely, thus improving the effectiveness of the treatment.
“Our commitment to fighting cancer includes minimizing the side effects that come along with treatment,” said Dr. Volker Stieber, radiation oncologist at Novant Health Derrick L. Davis Cancer Center. “We’re proud to offer these new technologies that improve outcomes and more effectively target the disease.”
Patients and their families are encouraged to talk to their oncologist and care providers to get a full understanding of the various treatment options that are available in their fight against cancer. For more information about Novant Health’s cancer services, visit NovantHealth.org/Cancer.
Subscribe