Kadlec advances cancer treatment with purchase of new linear accelerator

Kadlec Tri-Cities Cancer Center has purchased a new Varian TrueBeam HyperSight Linear Accelerator, expanding cancer treatment options in this region and opening the way for new treatments of non-cancerous conditions such as osteoarthritis.

 The machine essentially combines the technology of a diagnostic computer tomography (CT) system with the radiation treatment capabilities of a linear accelerator. For patients, this means that they do not need to have separate repeated CT scans as their treatment advances. The HyperSight system captures high quality images while the patient is on the treatment table allowing the treatment team to visualize changes in real time as the tumor changes position or size. It allows for more precise targeting of the tumor while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue. It also allows for individualized, tailored treatment plans.

 “The science of cancer treatment is changing,” said Dr. Andrew Roehrig, radiation oncologist with the Kadlec Tri-Cities Cancer Center. “This new system is faster, safer, and more convenient for patients. It allows us to monitor and treat tumors in real time.’’

 The new linear accelerator is part of a $6.2 million investment by Providence into the Kadlec Tri-Cities Cancer Center. The funding purchased the new machine, updated an existing linear accelerator, and covered the construction costs related to installing such large equipment. The old linear accelerator, which reached end of life, was removed.

 “When it was time to replace the older machine, we said we wanted to get the best of the best, and we have,” said Steven Bosma, medical physicist with the Kadlec Tri-Cities Cancer Center. “This is the top of the top.”

The treatments take less time and are so precise that if the patient moves during a radiation treatment, the linear accelerator halts treatment, adjusts to retarget the tumor, and then resumes. If there are multiple tumors, it can map, target and treat them within a single treatment plan, which also reduces the amount of time the patient spends in treatment. 

The Kadlec Tri-Cities Cancer Center team said that patients also will find the treatment itself more comfortable due to the new treatment tables. The table can move allowing pitch and roll to better align the tumor to match the treatment plan so the patient does not have to contort into uncomfortable positions for treatments. The Kadlec Tri-Cities Cancer Center is the only facility in the Tri-Cities to have this technology. The table can accommodate patients up to 440 pounds, removing a barrier faced by larger patients seeking cancer care in this region.

 “Honestly, you can’t get better care in a hundred miles,” said Jessica Lukson, director of Clinical Operations for the Kadlec Tri-Cities Cancer Center. “You don’t have to go out of the area for treatment.”

 In addition to cancer treatment, the linear accelerator also can treat conditions such as osteoarthritis. Low dose radiation treatment for arthritis is common in Europe and Germany and is increasingly being used in the United States. The radiation treatment is for patients with significant osteoarthritis for whom medications and injections are no longer helpful, and who may be considering surgery. This presents another option.

“It quiets the inflammatory cytokines that otherwise lead to swelling and pain in the effected joint,” said Dr. Ryan Kraus, radiation oncologist with the Kadlec Tri-Cities Cancer Center. “It can really improve someone’s quality of life. Two out of three people have a meaningful response that can last for years.”

For more information or to learn how to receive a referral, please contact the Kadlec Tri-Cities Cancer Center.