TrueBeam Radiotherapy System
TrueBeam Radiotherapy System Targets Cancer Tumors with Precision, Intensity
Jupiter Medical Center offers the most advanced radiation therapy with
the TrueBeam™ radiotherapy system. Designed to target tumors with
precision and power, TrueBeam combines sophisticated imaging, radiation
delivery and motion management technology to treat even the most challenging
cancers in numerous areas of the body, including the lung, liver, kidney,
pancreas, abdomen, head and neck, spine, brain, prostate and breast.
Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) with TrueBeam
Conventional radiation therapy is typically delivered in relatively small
doses each day over several weeks. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT)
is a more technologically advanced form of radiation therapy. SBRT delivers
a high dose of radiation to the targeted tumor, with a high degree of
precision, over fewer sessions and a shorter time period. Research shows
that SBRT offers better outcomes than conventional radiation for many
types of cancers.
When SBRT is applied specifically to tumors in the brain it is often called
stereotactic radiotherapy (SRS). SRS and SBRT are important alternative
to surgery. SBRT is also important for treating tumors in places such
as the lung and breast, which may move slightly when the patient breathes
during the radiation treatment.
SBRT allows for the precise delivery of high-dose radiation, immediately
after the tumor has been imaged.
How is SBRT and SRS Performed at Jupiter Medical Center?
Jupiter Medical Center radiation oncologists use several types of equipment
to perform SBRT, including the CyberKnife and the TrueBeam.
Both CyberKnife and the TrueBeam are stereotactic radiosurgery devices
that deliver radiation with linear accelerators, or devices that form
beams of fast-moving subatomic particles. Using advanced imaging technologies
and a computer guidance system, the beams are precisely directed at the
cancer cells. Both the CyberKnife and the TrueBeam can deliver a more
intense dose of radiation in just a few sessions, compared to conventional
radiation therapy.
Our expert radiation oncologists have many years of experience in treating
all types of cancer. Our oncology teams will develop a targeted treatment
plan and determine which form of radiotherapy will offer the best results
to treat your cancer. Factors that will be considered include the type
of cancer, its characteristics and location, among other considerations.
More About TrueBeam Technology
TrueBeam combines advanced imaging and radiation therapy technology to
target tumors with speed and accuracy, while protecting the healthy tissue
surrounding the tumor.
The TrueBeam system’s advanced imaging capabilities generate high-resolution,
3-D images to map the tumor and surrounding anatomy. These high-definition
images enable our oncology teams to visualize the tumor in great detail,
and incrementally adjust the patient’s position to maximize the
accuracy of the radiation beam.
TrueBeam also integrates motion management technology to account for the
movement of the tumor that occurs when a person breathes. By synchronizing
imaging and beam delivery with respiration, TrueBeam technology is especially
helpful for complex cancers in areas of the body such as the lung and
breast. While the patient relaxes and breathes normally, the motion management
technology allows our treatment team to deliver the dose with sub-millimeter accuracy.
In many cases, TrueBeam also reduces treatment times. Images can be created
60 percent faster, using 25 percent less X-ray dose than with previous
technology. Depending on the type of cancer and the treatment plan, treatments
that may have taken a half hour in the past may take only a few minutes.
With shorter treatment times and quiet operation, TrueBeam provides for
a more comfortable patient experience. Two-way audio and closed-circuit
TV technology allow our radiation therapists to be in continual contact
with patients during treatment. Because treatment times are short, you
can be in and out of sessions quickly and with minimal disruption to your
daily life.
Understanding Advanced Radiotherapy Techniques: IMRT, RapidArc and IGRT
Advances in radiation therapy are creating new options for the treatment
of many types of cancers. TrueBeam technology allows us to employ a variety
of different advanced radiotherapy approaches. In addition to stereotactic
body radiation therapy (SBRT), some patients may benefit from intensity
modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT).
Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) delivers high-dose radiation
to cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissues and organs.
With IMRT, the radiation is delivered from various angles. The intensity
of the radiation dose can be varied to conform to the contours of the
tumor, while sparing surrounding noncancerous tissue.
IMRT is used with many types of cancers, including brain, breast, colorectal,
esophagus, gynecological cancers, head and neck, lung, pancreas, prostrate,
sarcoma and thyroid. Our radiation oncologists also use RapidArc®,
a rapid, precise form of IMRT that delivers radiation with a single, 360-degree
rotation of the TrueBeam that lasts just two minutes.
Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) enhances the accuracy of IMRT through
imaging prior to each session. In traditional radiation therapy, doctors
diagnose, stage and image the tumor before radiation begins, and then
use the information to plan the entire cancer treatment.
But a tumor's size and shape can change during radiation treatment.
Through IGRT, our oncology teams track the changes in the tumor throughout
treatment, delivering more precise radiation therapy with fewer side effects
and less damage to healthy tissues.
Using the TrueBeam system, Jupiter Medical Center’s radiation oncologists
can design the optimal radiotherapy treatment plan for almost any cancer.