Cancer Treatment Centers of America: Integrative Care with TomoTherapy®
Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) is a network of cancer treatment hospitals and facilities that use an “Integrative Care” model to fight cancer on multiple fronts. CTCA combines medical, nutritional, physical, psychological and spiritual care to provide patients with every possible chance to fight cancer and win.
The TomoTherapy Hi·Art System® now plays an integral part in that fight at both Midwestern Regional Medical Center, CTCA’s facility in Zion, IL, and Southwestern Regional Medical Center, CTCA’s facility in Tulsa, OK.
Bernard Eden, MD, is Medical Director of Radiation Oncology CTCA-Zion. As head of a progressive department that aims to provide the latest care available, Dr. Eden says, “TomoTherapy fits that bill. It offers hope for patients, and we’re excited about that.”
CTCA-Zion began treating patients with TomoTherapy in May 2004; CTCA-Tulsa started in June 2004.
“Technologically, TomoTherapy’s pretty impressive,” comments Matthew West, PhD, a medical physicist at CTCA-Tulsa. “We’ve had a lot experience with various forms of conventional IMRT, and I’ve never seen dose distributions this good for the delivery time.”
Patients at CTCA are all self-referred, and take an active interest in their treatment and progress. “A lot of our patients on Tomo want to come back and see what the planning looks like,” comments Dr. West. “Our patients all want to be on Tomo, they’ve all heard about it.”
“Patients really like it,” concurs Dr. Eden. “It’s very precise, its side effects are less, they get a sense that it’s very accurate because of the TomoImage technology, and they can see the tumor shrinking over time.”
CTCA-Tulsa is treating an average of 15 patients a day on the Hi·Art System, including re-treatments and palliative treatments for advanced disease, while CTCA-Zion is now averaging 26 patients a day. Dr. Eden describes one case in which the patient was being treated for several lung nodules.
“She responded pretty well. She tolerated the treatments very well, with no pulmonary toxicity. We were very happy, and she was pleased as well.”
A CTCA Radiation Therapist uses a TomoImage scan to verify a patient’s postion.
Although the two centers generally operate independently, both departments are looking into some informal collaboration and protocol exchange. “TomoTherapy and IGRT (Image-Guided Radiation Therapy) have really made everybody think,” states Dr. West. “Doctors are rethinking how accurately they’re drawing their margins, therapists are rethinking how accurately they’re positioning the patient. I think Tomo’s biggest advantage is the combination of accuracy, conformality, and speed.”
10 Nov 2004
