Brachytherapy News and Research

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Brachytherapy is a minimally invasive procedure that involves the use of radioactive seeds the size of rice grains. Brachytherapy, an out-patient procedure, usually takes 45 minutes to an hour to perform. Most patients can return to their normal activities within days. The success rates of prostate brachytherapy have compared favorably with success rates of radical prostatectomy and external beam radiation. In comparison studies, prostate brachytherapy has shown to have a favorable side effect profile when compared with other modalities. Clinical studies have shown that prostate brachytherapy has a cure rate of 94% for appropriately selected patients.

Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital commences treatment with the Novalis Tx radiosurgery platform

Doctors in Latvia have begun treatments using the region's first Novalis Tx(TM) radiosurgery platform from Varian Medical Systems and BrainLAB. Two prostate cancer patients have been treated using Varian's RapidArc® radiotherapy technology at the Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital.

14 Oct 2009

Xoft to showcase a variety of investigational IORT oncology applications at ACS Annual Congress

Clinical experience with the FDA cleared Axxent® Electronic Brachytherapy, eBx(TM), System from Xoft shows promise for the multi-disciplinary use of the isotope-free cancer treatment platform to deliver intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT). Xoft will showcase a variety of investigational IORT oncology applications at the American College of Surgeons 95th Annual Clinical Congress here in Chicago, October 11-15, 2009.

12 Oct 2009

HealthHelp to provide radiation oncology management on national scale

With cancer’s incidence and treatment costs rising, HealthHelp has become the first company to provide radiation oncology management on a national scale. Approximately 4 million Humana patients in 46 states will benefit from this innovative new program.

9 Oct 2009

American Shared Hospital Services updates on Todd Cancer Institute's proton therapy center development

AMERICAN SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES, a leading provider of turnkey technology solutions for advanced radiosurgical and radiation therapy services, today shared a recent announcement regarding progress in the development of a proton therapy center at Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center.

8 Oct 2009

IMRISNV and IMRIScardio to be installed in BWH's AMIGO suite

IMRIS Inc. ("IMRIS" or the "Company") and Brigham and Women's Hospital, ("BWH") today announced a comprehensive agreement in support of BWH's vision of bringing the most advanced multi-modality image guided therapy suite in the world to its facility in Boston, Massachusetts.

3 Oct 2009

Todd Cancer Institute granted approval for constructing proton therapy center

The Todd Cancer Institute (TCI) at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center (LBMMC) and Miller Children’s Hospital (MCH) today announced it has been granted approval to proceed with the architecture and engineering for its proton therapy center, becoming one of only 13 centers in the country currently planning for a compact unit.

1 Oct 2009

World’s first Cesium-131 implant for recurrent head and neck cancer performed

IsoRay, Inc. (Amex: ISR) announced today that on August 5, 2009, Dr. Bhupesh Parashar from the Department of Radiation Oncology, Dr. David Kutler of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, and Dr. Jason Spector of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical Center performed the world’s first Cesium-131 implant for a recurrent head and neck cancer (buccal mucosa).

28 Sep 2009

Advanced radiosurgery technology utilized by Cyberknife for effective cancer treatment

Cyberknife of Long Island has become the first cancer center in New York to treat tumors with the most advanced radiosurgery technology available to date.

17 Sep 2009

Premion commences cancer treatment with Varian's RapidArc radiotherapy technology

Cancer patients in Australia have gained access to advanced RapidArc(R) radiotherapy treatments from Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) with its introduction by the leading radiation oncology provider in Queensland. Premion, which operates five cancer centers in Queensland, has treated more than a dozen prostate cancer patients to date with this fast, precise and efficient technique at its Chermside treatment center in Brisbane.

16 Sep 2009

Particle beam radiation therapy for cancer cure is better than traditional radiation method

Particle beam radiation therapy, a technology used to treat several types of cancer, is considered by some clinicians to be better than traditional radiation, but there is limited evidence about its safety compared with other types of radiation therapy, according to a new comparative effectiveness report funded by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

15 Sep 2009

Lack of awareness in aged men reagarding prostate cancer treatment options

Prostate cancer remains one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the United States. In fact, one in six men will develop prostate cancer. It is also the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States. But a recent survey suggests that many men at risk for the cancer still aren't aware of all available treatment options.

10 Sep 2009

Prostate cancer treatment options discussed in a study

A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) appears to support the theory outlined in earlier studies that men with more advanced forms of prostate cancer don't benefit from a combination of hormone and radiation therapy.

9 Sep 2009

Banner Good Samaritan treats cancers and neurological disorders with the Novalis Tx radiosurgery platform

John J. Kresl, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center are now treating a wide variety of cancers and neurological disorders with highly-accurate, non-invasive, image-guided radiosurgery using the Novalis Tx(TM) radiosurgery platform from Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) and BrainLAB.

4 Sep 2009

Nucletron announces financial results for the first half year of 2009

Nucletron, a global leader in radiation oncology, today announced strong financial results over the first half year of 2009. Despite challenging global economic conditions, Nucletron surpassed projections for the first half year.

3 Sep 2009

MammoSite ML radiation therapy system approved for breast cancer treatment

Hologic, Inc. (Hologic or the Company), a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of premium diagnostics, medical imaging systems and surgical products dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of women, today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the Company's 510K application for the MammoSite((R)) ML radiation therapy system.

1 Sep 2009

Varian Medical Systems unveils first low-energy radiotherapy system with image-guidance and RapidArc treatment capabilities

Varian Medical Systems is introducing the world's first low-energy radiotherapy system with image-guidance and RapidArc treatment capabilities for international cancer clinics. Varian's UNIQUE(TM) radiotherapy system is expected to make advanced care more affordable and more widely available to cancer patients around the world.

31 Aug 2009

Increased risk of death for men with heart conditions undergoing RT with hormone therapy for prostate cancer

Men with coronary artery disease-induced congestive heart failure or heart attack who receive hormone therapy before or along with radiation therapy for treatment of prostate cancer have an associated increased risk of death, according to a study in the August 26 issue of JAMA.

26 Aug 2009

Varian Medical Systems to equip a new proton therapy center in Sweden

Varian Medical Systems today announced it has been selected to equip a new proton therapy center in Sweden. In a ceremony conducted by Swedish authorities yesterday following a public tender, Varian was named to supply an estimated $60 million in products for Skandionkliniken, a new national proton therapy center owned by a consortium of seven of Sweden's counties.

20 Aug 2009

Seed implants suitable prostate cancer treatment for men of all ages

Men diagnosed with prostate cancer have a number of treatments to choose from, but it's a daunting task to figure out the right mix of therapies for an individual patient.

3 Aug 2009

At VA hospital, a rogue cancer unit

The New York Times reports that a "rogue cancer unit" at a veteran's hospital in Philadelphia "operated with virtually no outside scrutiny and botched 92 of 116 [prostate] cancer treatments over a span of more than six years - and then kept quiet about it, according to interviews with investigators, government officials and public records."

22 Jun 2009