2005 Press Releases
Rome Memorial Hospital’s June Health Night to Focus on Mohawk Valley Radiation Medicine’s Ability to Offer More Precise Treatment of Lung and Other Cancers ROME –Board Certified Radiation Oncologist Linda Schicker, M.D., will introduce Rome Memorial Hospital’s latest investment in advanced technology that offers greater hope in the fight against cancer at an open house and Health Night lecture Thursday, June 2. The free lecture will take place in Chestnut Commons at Mohawk Valley Radiation Medicine, 107 West Chestnut St., from 6 to 7 p.m. with tours available from 7 to 8 p.m. According to Dr. Schicker, the state-of-the-art technology, known as intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) - combined with a new dynamic targeting system - offers superior precision in treating cancer. “The advantage of IMRT is its ability to shape the radiation beam intensity to better match the dimensions of a tumor. This allows a high dose of radiation to be delivered to the tumor with less harm to surrounding normal tissue,” she explained. “Because tumors can move as a result of normal internal organ activity, we’ve also invested in respiratory gating and portal imaging technology, which enable us to better target the tumor by following its natural movement in the body.” “For example, a lung tumor can move as much as four centimeters with each breath. Respiratory gating is able to track when a patient breathes, so the treatment beam is activated only when the tumor is in range,” explained Dr. Schicker. “For our patients, the new technology means fewer side effects from treatment and hopefully higher cure rates because we can deliver a higher, more targeted dose of radiation to the tumor,” Dr. Schicker said. “IMRT is one of the most technologically advanced treatment methods available in external beam radiation therapy. Traditional radiation therapy uses a uniform radiation beam. With IMRT, the radiation is effectively broken up into thousands of tiny pencil-thin radiation beams of varied intensity. With millimeter accuracy, these beams enter the body from many angles and intersect in the tumor.” IMRT can be used to treat many different types of cancer, including tumors in the prostate, brain, pancreas, liver, breast, head, neck and lungs. In some cases it even allows the hospital to retreat cancers which have previously been irradiated. It also allows safer treatment of tumors which are located very close to delicate organs like the eye, spinal cord or rectum. The new cancer treatment center addition was designed and constructed by the Charles Gaetano Construction Company, Utica. Visual therapy, which allows patients to relax and refocus during cancer treatment, is incorporated into the design. Mohawk Valley Radiation Medicine was the first to introduce radiation therapy to Rome in 1997 and now has the only IMRT in Rome. Now, it will be the first facility in this area to provide respiratory gating, said Schicker. “We are extremely pleased to open our doors to the community so that people can learn about these latest advancements in cancer treatment,” said Dr. Schicker. “We are offering the community the opportunity to see the technology, to meet Mohawk Valley Radiation Medicine staff, and to ask questions,” she added. Advance registration is not required and refreshments will be served. For additional information, please call 338-0897. |
