December 18, 2008 - Doctors at the Cancer Treatment Services in Casa Grande, AZ, have begun treating cancer patients with a reportedly fast and precise form of radiotherapy, using RapidArc radiotherapy technology by Varian Medical Systems.
Ulysses Sharp, 73, a heavy equipment operator and mechanic battling prostate cancer, is among the first patients in Arizona to benefit from the RapidArc system. RapidArc delivers image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) two to eight times faster than is possible with earlier radiotherapy technologies.
"Treating a prostate cancer patient with conventional IMRT can take between 15 to 30 minutes a day," said Ajay Bhatnagar, M.D., the Cancer Treatment Services physician in charge of Ulysses' case. "I've been pleased to find that, with RapidArc, we can complete Ulysses' daily treatment sessions in just 90 seconds once he has been positioned for treatment."
Faster treatments have the potential to improve the precision of dose delivery by minimizing the effects of tumor motion during treatment.
For more information: www.varian.com
May 14, 2024 
