Radiation Therapy News and Research

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Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy, x-ray therapy, or irradiation) is the use of a certain type of energy (called ionizing radiation) to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy injures or destroys cells in the area being treated (the “target tissue”) by damaging their genetic material, making it impossible for these cells to continue to grow and divide. Although radiation damages both cancer cells and normal cells, most normal cells can recover from the effects of radiation and function properly. The goal of radiation therapy is to damage as many cancer cells as possible, while limiting harm to nearby healthy tissue.

Perceived reduction in penis size linked to regrets of prostate cancer treatment choice

A small percentage of men in a prostate cancer study complained that their penis seemed shorter following treatment, with some saying that it interfered with intimate relationships and caused them to regret the type of treatment they chose.

3 Jan 2013

RaySearch and Siemens terminate development and licensing agreement

In May 2009 RaySearch Laboratories entered into a long-term development and licensing agreement with Siemens Healthcare. Under the agreement RaySearch provided a number of treatment planning modules for integration in Siemens' syngo Suite for Oncology, which is Siemens' integrated workflow solution for radiation therapy.

2 Jan 2013

Active surveillance of prostate cancer patients encouraged

Active surveillance is an effective way of monitoring patients with low-risk prostate cancer and is associated with a low risk for systemic progression, say researchers.

31 Dec 2012

Vero system can treat patients with recent diagnoses of metastatic cancer

University of Florida radiation oncologists are using a sophisticated medical device to treat patients who have recent diagnoses of metastatic cancer, where the disease has started to spread from one part of the body to another.

18 Dec 2012

Elekta receives clearance for Clarity 4D Monitoring software

Elekta has received 510(k) clearance for its Clarity 4D Monitoring software, enabling U.S. medical centers to implement this new way of reducing the uncertainty caused by prostate motion during radiation treatment.

From Elekta 17 Dec 2012

New report provides snapshot of Canada's cancer system

A comprehensive report released today by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer provides a snapshot of how Canada's cancer system is performing in key areas from prevention through to patient experience and outcomes.

17 Dec 2012

Sirtex unveils new website to learn more about SIR-Spheres microspheres

Sirtex today unveiled a new, comprehensive and easy-to-use global website for doctors, nurses, patients and investors interested in learning more about SIR-Spheres microspheres, a form of radiotherapy targeting liver tumours that is gaining increasingly wide acceptance worldwide.

13 Dec 2012

Concord Medical to acquire 19.98% ownership of MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center

Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited, a leading specialty hospital management solution provider and operator of the largest network of radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging centers in China, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement under which it will acquire 19.98% of indirect ownership of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Proton Therapy Center (MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center), achieved through acquiring a minority interest in the general partner and facility manager.

13 Dec 2012

IRS releases final rules for health law's medical device tax

The 2.3 percent tax is expected to raise $29 billion over 10 years.

7 Dec 2012

Cocktail-treated human NK cells show promise against cancer

Fighting cancer using the body's own defense system is a promising treatment approach. Immune therapies have even become clinical routine in treating a few cancers such as malignant melanoma and prostate cancer. Natural killer cells (or NK cells) are considered to be particularly suitable weapons against cancer.

7 Dec 2012

Using Nanoparticles to Target Cancer

An interview with John Stroh, discussing the development of nanoparticles that can target and treat cancer, without damaging nearby tissues.

6 Dec 2012

Obesity ramps up thoracic surgery costs

Obese patients have significantly increased operating times when undergoing lobectomy for primary lung cancer, show US study results.

5 Dec 2012

Combination of ketogenic diet and radiation therapy effectively treats malignant gliomas

A team of brain cancer researchers at Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center has effectively treated brain tumor cells using a unique combination of diet and radiation therapy.

5 Dec 2012

Rural cancer survivors more likely to have poor health outcomes

Cancer survivors who live in rural areas are more likely to say they are in poor health than those who live in urban areas, according to a study in the journal Cancer. They are also more likely to have other health disorders, more psychological distress, and be unemployed due to health reasons than city dwellers.

30 Nov 2012

DARA BioSciences submits KRN5500 Orphan Drug Application with FDA

DARA BioSciences, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on oncology and oncology supportive care products, announced today it has submitted an Orphan Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for KRN5500, a compound in development to treat a painful form of chronic chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CCIPN).

30 Nov 2012

CEL-SCI's Multikine cancer drug receives key Japanese patent

CEL-SCI Corporation today announced that the Japanese patent office has issued a key patent covering CEL-SCI's investigational cancer drug, Multikine (Leukocyte Interleukin, Injection).

29 Nov 2012

Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy does not reduce breast cancer recurrence

About 70 percent of women who have both breasts removed following a breast cancer diagnosis do so despite a very low risk of facing cancer in the healthy breast, new research from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center finds.

28 Nov 2012

BSD-2000 Hyperthermia System purchased by Cancer Treatment Centers of America

BSD Medical Corporation, a leading provider of medical systems that utilize targeted heat therapy to treat cancer, announced today that the Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Western Regional Medical Center (WRMC), located in Goodyear, Arizona, has purchased a BSD-2000 Hyperthermia System (BSD-2000).

26 Nov 2012

iCAD introduces VersaVue Enterprise 3.2.1 MR software

iCAD, Inc., an industry-leading provider of advanced image analysis, workflow solutions and radiation therapy for the identification and treatment of cancer, announced today it will launch VersaVue Enterprise 3.2.1, the latest release of the company's MR software solution that provides improvements in workflow efficiency and flexibility, at the annual conference of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) taking place in Chicago, November 25-30.

26 Nov 2012

Illuminate PatientView to be introduced at Radiological Society of North America meeting

Illuminate PatientView, the newest application of Softek Illuminate's search engine and data aggregation technology, will be introduced at the Radiological Society of North America's annual meeting Nov. 25-30 at Chicago's McCormick Place and demonstrated by Softek associates in booth 9141.

20 Nov 2012