HUNDREDS of cancer patients will benefit from a revoluntary machine which has arrived at Bodelwyd-dan treatment centre.
The first patients recently received radiation therapy using the fast and efficient RapidArc system at North Wales Cancer Centre.
The centre is the first in Wales to take delivery of two £1.5m machines capable of offering RapidArc, which improves the accuracy of radiation and delivers faster treatment.
The machines form part of a £12 million overhaul of the centre’s cancer suite and facilities.
Patients receive Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) RapidArc radiotherapy treatment in two rotations of the treatment machine, taking just over two minutes.
As well as making treatment more comfortable for patients, faster delivery reduces the chance of patient movement during treatment and enables more precise dose distribution while helping to protect nearby healthy tissue and vital organs.
Dr Jaap Vaarkamp, Head of Radiotherapy Physics at Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board, said: “RapidArc is able to precisely shape the radiation beam to the tumour and this is especially important when treating cancers of the head, neck and prostate. It can help destroy the cancer more quickly whilst ensuring that the healthy tissues surrounding the cancer receive less radiation, which can lead to fewer side effects.”
Professor Matthew Makin, Chief of Staff for Cancer services at Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board, said: “The first procedure went extremely well and we were very pleased with the speed of delivery.
“With the increased accuracy we will be able to better prevent radiation from reaching this healthy tissue, while at the same time having our patients spend less time on the treatment table.”
“By delivering doses more quickly, we can improve the quality of care and make our patients more comfortable.”