Cancer Patients Benefit from NoninvasiveTreatments BY MARK MCLAUGHLIN, M.D.
In recent years, advances in technology have given more options to patients with cancer. In December 2014, the American Cancer Society released a study that said more than 1.3* million Americans avoided death from cancer since 1991 thanks to a combination of better prevention, detection and advanced treatments. Patients with cancer—regardless of complexity—have access to a broad Mark McLaughlin, M.D., is medical range of therapies that can be tailored director of radiation to their specific needs. In many cases, oncology at WellStar. He earned his medical patients can choose noninvasive, paindegree from the free treatments with no recovery time. Medical College of Georgia and completed Two such therapies are targeted his surgical internship radiation treatments called at Shands Teaching Hospital, College of TomoTherapy and CyberKnife. These Medicine at University of Florida, where he systems allow radiation oncologists to also completed his offer accurate, personalized cancer care residency in radiation oncology. with precise beams of radiation that can be delivered from multiple angles and rotation arcs. This beam range allows more precise radiation delivery. Because of advances in technology that allow for such precise delivery, radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue and organs is greatly reduced, and side effects that are common with traditional radiation also are diminished. CyberKnife automatically corrects for motion throughout the treatment and is particularly helpful for treating tumors of the lung, liver and prostate, where movement is common. The TomoTherapy system’s unique use of CT scans while radiation is being delivered identifies the exact position of the tumors during the treatment and adjusts for patients’ movement, helping target cancer treatment in ways never before thought possible. Both of these therapies deliver radiation with speed, reducing patients’ treatment time and allowing for shorter courses of treatment. Because TomoTherapy and CyberKnife are so efficient, patients speak of never having to miss appointments at work, time with grandkids or even a tee time. With the addition of TomoTherapy this April, WellStar Kennestone Hospital will be the only hospital in Georgia to offer both of these cutting-edge treatments to our patients. We’re thrilled to be able to provide individualized treatment choices to patients that will enhance the quality and longevity of their lives.
Patients can choose noninvasive, pain-free treatments with no recovery time.
*SOURCE: American Cancer Society, 2014 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ doi/10.3322/caac.21208/pdf SIXES LIVING | April 2015
43