For Immediate Release

11/22/06 

The Center for Cancer Care Provides New Revolutionary Radiation Therapy

Goshen, Ind. - Patients can now access locally one of the world's most advanced cancer treatments. The Center for Cancer Care recently introduced a radiation treatment that, according to Dr. Wheeler, can treat cancers considered untreatable. "There is no cancer too complicated," said James Wheeler, MD, PhD, director of radiation oncology at the Center for Cancer Care. "For example, patients who have already had a course of radiation treatment have been told that they cannot have further treatment because the damage to healthy tissue would outweigh the benefits of controlling the tumor. Now, we can overcome that limitation for many patients. This new treatment will have a tremendous positive impact on our patients."

It is called TomoTherapy. Unlike traditional radiation therapies, an integrated CT scanner verifies the location and size of the patient's tumor immediately prior to each treatment. "This is important because a tumor can shift between treatments, or the patient may not be lying in exactly the correct position" said Wheeler. Then radiation is delivered in a helical pattern from any point in a 360-degree radius around the patient. Wheeler explained, "Traditional therapies can only project onto the tumor from three to seven different positions. TomoTherapy allows us to see the exact location, shape and size of the tumor and deliver precise beams of radiation from thousands of positions. Additionally, the accuracy of this treatment allows us to greatly reduce the impact on healthy tissue and avoid delicate areas like the spinal cord."

TomoTherapy, like all radiation therapies, is very physics intensive. That is why all of the radiation therapists at the Center for Cancer Care are trained in dosimetry. "I have the best physics staff here that I've ever worked with," said Wheeler. "This is one of the best cancer centers in the country in terms of being able to take into clinical practice new technology."

"Dr. Wheeler was instrumental in bringing TomoTherapy to our community," said Paulette Brown, Vice President of Operations, Center for Cancer Care. "He is passionate about providing the best technology and treatment. But, what I think sets him apart from other radiation oncologists is his approach to his patients. His level of compassion is beyond so many other professionals out there, and our patients love him."

How Tomotherapy Works

1. Before each treatment, the patient, lying down, moves through a machine for a 3-D image CT scan. Images verify the shape, size and location of the tumor or tumors.
2. The patient then moves through the machine again where radiation is delivered in a helical pattern from any point in a 360-degree radius to the tumor.
3. Each procedure takes approximately 20 minutes.

Goshen Health System is a not-for-profit provider of health care that includes Goshen General Hospital, The Center for Cancer Care, Park Home Medical Equipment, PrimeCare Physician Network, Team:Bariatrics, The Retreat Women's Health Center and Indiana Lakes Managed Care Organization. The health system is an affiliate partner of Clarian Health, which includes Indiana University Hospital, Methodist Hospital of Indianapolis and Riley Hospital for Children. For more information about Goshen Health System, contact visit www.goshenhealth.com.