New Proton Therapy Aimed at Helping Ex Smokers who Stopped Smoking
MD Anderson’s new tool, the Proton Radiation Pencil is very precise. It has the ability to deliver high amounts of radiation with pinpoint accuracy. This enables the tool to be used while not damaging neighboring tissue. The new proton pencil therapy is fantastic because it merges a very high powered proton beam and pin point accuracy. This allows the highest dosage of radiation only to the spots that need it, while protecting nearby tissue.
“The advantage lies in the beam’s capacity to approach the tumor from multiple directions, creating a “U” shape around these structures and avoiding them entirely during treatment.” Dr. Cox said. There is no need for a brass template anymore to outline the shape of the tumor. This pencil beam of radiation is more like an airbrush and very effective. Dr. Cox who is the head of the Division of Radiation Oncology at MD Anderson.
The unique problem of lung cancer is that the lungs are very closely situated in proximity to other vital organs as well. For instance the heart, spine and aorta is within a very close distance to the lungs. The pinpoint accuracy involved here allows higher efficiency in killing cancer cells while saving large sections of healthy tissue. This effectively helps to solve issues that occur because of over radiating healthy tissue in the past.
For radiologists the mantra is, “To Deliver the Maximum Amount of Radiation to a Malignant Cancer Tumor, while at the same time, Protecting the surrounding Good and Useful Tissue from the Harmful Effects of Radiation.” That would pretty much sum up the situation. That is what the new Pencil Beam Scanning Proton Technology does. The pencil beam technology allows the doctors at MD Anderson to use the high powered proton radiation but in a very controlled and refined way. It is the perfect weapon in the war against cancer as it is well suited for the uneven terrain of malignant cancer tumors.
According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 222,520 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in 2010. Many of these new lung cancer cases are thought to be related directly or indirectly to smoking. Smokers are urged to stop smoking to protect themselves and their families from the possibility of cancer. Despite advances, the long term survival rates of lung cancer remain low, reinforcing the need to expand therapies that offer a greater combination of potency.
MD Anderson was the first Cancer Therapy Center in North America to treat cancer patients with the new Pencil Beam Scanning Technology. In addition, it is the first Cancer Center to use the Pencil Beam Scanning Proton Technology on lung cancer patients. MD Anderson’s Proton Therapy Center, in Houston Texas, began treatments on cancer patients in May of 2006.
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