New imaging technology cuts treatment times for patients
Cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy at The Alfred are now experiencing shorter treatment times, thanks to the arrival of state-of-the-art imaging technology.
The new imaging system, Hypersight on TrueBeam, helps radiation therapists see more of the body at once and generates images of the patient's anatomy in greater detail, making it easier for the team to adjust treatment in real time.
A/Prof Hany Elsaleh, Director, Radiation Oncology at Alfred Health, said this equates to less ‘idle time’ for patients, where patients wait on the treatment bed while therapists undertake the patient setup assessment and decision-making process.
“With this technology, therapists have the confidence to make faster decisions because they are working with more detailed information,” A/Prof Elsaleh said.
“This quicker turnaround time also reduces discomfort or anxiety for patients typically caused by long sessions, improving their experience.”
The increased imaging detail also improves the precision of treatments, potentially resulting in less damage to healthy tissue, with fewer side effects for the patient.
The Alfred is the first hospital in Australia to introduce the Hypersight on Truebeam, and for Ben, 43, its introduction has been good timing.
“I’m almost at the end of my 30 sessions of radiation,” said Ben, who had a squamous cell carcinoma removed from his mouth late last year. It required a 25cm skin graft from his thigh as well as pectoral surgery.
“I’ve noticed a difference – there's less time lying on the bed waiting. Beforehand, although the team would chat to you on the microphone or you’d listen to your music, you’d still be nervous about what was going on, or how long you had to lie still for. It’s shorter now.”
“It’s been a long journey to get here – from three surgeries and weeks in ICU, to starting to learn how to eat and drink again with physio and speech pathologists. I’ve done it all here at the one place.”
“The teams here make the difference. It’s reassuring to know we can access the best technology and care in a public hospital, and there’s everything you need right here.”
