TomoTherapy at St. Mary's of Michigan

TomoTherapy

St. Mary�s of Michigan Seton Cancer Institute continues to be the region�s leader in cancer treatment with the addition of the most advanced technology in radiation treatment.

Available at St. Mary�s of Michigan Medical Center in Saginaw, the TomoTherapy HI-ART® System is a totally new, revolutionary way to treat cancer with radiation. With this dynamic technology, your physician can check the location of your tumor before each treatment, then deliver painless and precise radiation therapy based on a carefully customized plan.

Physicians choose TomoTherapy because it combines precise 3-D imaging from computerized tomography (CT scanning) with precisely targeted radiation beams.

Different From the Rest
TomoTherapy is one of the most advanced radiation delivery systems available, delivering precise radiation to tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

The TomoTherapy system introduces a two-step treatment process :

Verification : Before each treatment, your therapist will take a verification CT image (VRCT) of the treatment site to check the tumor�s exact size, shape, and most importantly, location. Internal organs move with every breath; tumors can shift day to day and their shape can change as they shrink during the course of treatment. With the image guided capability of TomoTherapy, physicians can more accurately locate the tumor and reduce the amount of radiation that healthy tissues receive while concentrating the radiation therapy where it is needed most � at the tumor site. This also reduces side effects of standard radiation therapy.

Therapy : TomoTherapy uses a rotating beam of radiation that is constantly modulated to target the exact size and shape of your cancer while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. During your treatment, the radiation rotates 360 degrees, while the specialized table moves through the machine. While conventional radiotherapy delivers a wide beam of radiation from just a few directions, TomoTherapy can deliver small beamlets of radiation from every point on a spiral. The rotating beam can accurately shape the radiation as prescribed by your physician and can treat both large tumors and multiple sites at the same time.

While patients are receiving treatment, they can also benefit from visual and light therapy. Our "sky ceiling" creates an authentic experience of nature with daylight fluorescent lighting that simulates natural sunlight and creates the impression of looking outdoors. Visual and light therapies create a surreal environment which is very calming. It should allow the patient to relax more during their treatment and encourage a therapeutic experience that also focuses on the mind, body and spirit.

Treatment Day
After checking in for your daily treatment, you will be taken to the TomoTherapy room where a radiation therapist will help you onto the treatment table. You will probably lie on your back, and the therapist may fit you with a special immobilization device to help you hold still during your TomoTherapy treatment.

First, the table will move you through the machine once for your verification (VRCT) imaging. Based on these images, the therapist may change your position or move the table slightly to make sure the treatment targets the correct area.

Then, the table will carry you through the machine once again, this time more slowly, as the TomoTherapy system delivers your treatment.

What You Can Expect
The procedure usually takes about 15 minutes. It is important that you move as little as possible during the actual treatment. The treatment itself is painless and feels no different than having a CT scan or an X-ray taken. You may hear a clicking noise and the hum of the machine which are normal sounds that the system makes. You will not feel or see the treatment as it is being delivered.

Depending on your treatment, an immobilization device may be used to help you remain perfectly still so precise accuracy is maintained. A variety of devices are available that can be used for treatment to the head, neck, chest, abdomen or pelvis area. These devices mold perfectly to the contour of the region in order to maintain perfect body alignment for a single treatment or multiple weeks of treatment. They prevent you from rolling or drifting over time, especially when you need to hold still for the treatment on a daily basis.

Your physician can provide you with further information about TomoTherapy treatment and its benefits. Be sure to discuss all questions or concerns with your physician.

			800 South Washington Avenue · Saginaw, MI 48601-2524 (989)907-8000 · 1-800-STMARYS
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