Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology is the first in UK to offer revolutionary radiation treatment

Dec 9 2008 By Lorna Hughes

CLATTERBRIDGE Centre for Oncology has become the first cancer facility in the UK to offer patients a revolutionary radiotherapy treatment which will significantly shorten treatment times.  

In conventional radiotherapy, a single treatment can take up to 30 minutes as the machine used in the process - called a linear accelerator - needs to circle a patient as they lie on a treatment bed.

The new technology will make it possible for the machine to deliver cancer treatments in one continuous rotation, reducing treatment times.

The technique, caleld RapidArc, will make it possible for radiation therapy to be delivered in less than two minutes - two to eight times faster than existnig technology.

More 30 cancer treatment centres across the US and Europe have invested in the technology.

Research Radiographer at Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology Angela Heaton said: “A traditional head and neck treatment can take anywhere up to 45 minutes, but this new technology will mean some of these treatment times can be reduced to as little as 25 minutes and simple prostate IMRT treatment delivery will be reduced from ten to two minutes. 

"The benefit to patients will be significant; not only will they need to lie on the treatment table for less time – which can be quite uncomfortable for elderly and immobile patients, but we may also be able to treat more patients as treatment times are reduced.”

Brian Haylock Clinical Director at Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology said: “By using this state of the art technology we can speed up the time of some of our most complex treatments and in doing so we will be able to treat more patients comfortably and with less stress to the individual.

"We are very excited about the introduction of this technique and its potential for the future."