Cancer patients at the B.C. Cancer AgencyB次元官网网址檚 Vancouver Island Centre at Royal Jubilee Hospital now have access to six new linear accelerators that provide radiation therapy used to treat a variety of cancers.

B次元官网网址淭he six new TrueBeam linear accelerators help place the B.C. Cancer Agency at the forefront of providing cutting-edge cancer treatment using the newest and most innovative radiation therapy equipment,B次元官网网址� said Health Minister Terry Lake.

B次元官网网址淭his technology is a perfect example of the world-class cancer care B.C. residents have access to and it will help improve the quality of life for Island patients affected by cancer.B次元官网网址�

The new linear accelerators are part of a replacement plan that will improve patient care by providing some of the most advanced, targeted radiation therapy treatments in B.C.

The plan also includes a new radiation therapy simulator and a brachytherapy suite upgrade B次元官网网址� a form of radiotherapy where a radiation source is placed inside or next to the area requiring treatment.

The B.C. government provided $24.3 million in funding for the project.

B次元官网网址淲e appreciate the provincial government providing funding for new linear accelerators, a radiation therapy simulator and a brachytherapy suite upgrade at the Vancouver Island Centre,B次元官网网址� said Nick Foster, interim head, B.C. Cancer Agency.

B次元官网网址淭o provide the best care, it is important that the B.C. Cancer Agency keep current with new technology and treatment advances. This new equipment will help to improve health outcomes for our patients by allowing us to deliver more precise radiation treatment to patients at the Vancouver Island Centre.B次元官网网址�

Linear accelerators work by making use of high-energy x-rays to kill tumour cells. Radiation therapy is used to treat a variety of cancer types, as well as in palliative treatment to relieve symptoms.

The new machines deliver radiation more precisely, and produce better images, so treatment can be modified on a daily basis to support the needs of patients.

On-board imaging, which enables staff to confirm the patientB次元官网网址檚 alignment, and RapidArc B次元官网网址� a treatment technique that delivers radiation in a 360-degree arc around the patient B次元官网网址� allow for more efficient treatment delivery and improved accuracy, ultimately resulting in better patient outcomes.

Approximately 55 per cent of cancer patients in B.C. require radiation therapy as part of their treatment plan. The linear accelerators typically operate eight hours per day, treating approximately 150 patients during that time period.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com

Learn more

B次元官网网址� To find out more about the B.C. Cancer AgencyB次元官网网址檚 cancer treatment and research, go online to .