Technology Will Save Our Minds

and BodiesCancer Treatment Technologies

Rochelle Ryan

• Most people will agree that medical technologies have made all the better in our lives

• A person does not have to constantly wonder what’s wrong with them because a simple trip to the doctors office will give them an accurate diagnosis

• Technological advances in medical equipment allows doctors to look into a person’s body pinpointing the problem

• One of the most appreciated medical advancement would be to treat cancer using new technologies4 Types of Cancer Treating Technologies:

• Linear Accelerator• Cobalt-60 Therapy• Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)• Laser Treatment Types

Linear Accelerator

• This technology is commonly used for external beam radiation treatments

• It can be used to treat all parts and organs of a persons’ body

• It works by delivering high-energy x-rays accelerated in a straight line into the region of a patients tumor

Electrons smash into metal target that is within the machine

Energies produced are so strong they produce high energy x-rays

These x-rays are focused into a defined beam for highly controlled treatment

Pros and Cons of Linear Accelerator

Pros Cons

Very precise due to continuous dose monitoring and recording

The device size limits where it can be placed

When machine is off there is no radiation leaked into room

Great number of power supplies are required, which increases maintenance and construction costs

Cobalt-60 Therapy

• This technology uses gamma radiation to destroy tumors

• The therapy can be used anywhere on the body but is especially useful in treating brain tumors

• Has been used to treat cancer for almost 60 years because of its effectiveness

• The machine directs approximately 200 beams of gamma rays at the tumor

Pros and Cons of Cobalt-60

Pros Cons

Doctors can deliver high doses of radiation to tumor without damaging surrounding healthy tissue and organs

Source disposal causes major environmental problem

Treatment can take as little as several minutes to complete

Source has to be changed every 7 years

There is some radiation always present in the room the machine is in

Precision is not as accurate as other treatments

Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)

• This therapy uses a variety of 2-D, 3-D, and 4-D imaging techniques to accurately identify and pinpoint tumor changes

• This therapy is ideal for tumors that are close to sensitive organs that are prone to movement or change of shape (such as the intestines)

Pros and Cons of IGRT

Pros Cons

Accurate radiation delivery Resource- intensive nature of delivery and increasing dose from additional imaging

Great monitoring of tumor position, size and shape before and during treatment

Possibility of higher targeted radiation dosage to improve tumor control

Little to no radiation is exposed to surrounding healthy tissue

Laser Treatment Types

• This treatment option is powerful and precise

• A laser is a better option than blades during surgery for very careful and cleaner work

• There are 3 types of laser treatments for cancer:

1. Carbon Dioxide Laser

2. Argon Laser

3. Nd:YAG (Neodymium: Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet) Laser

1. Carbon Dioxide Laser

• Can cut and dissolve tissue with little bleeding because the light energy changes to heat

• This laser is used to remove thin layers from the surface of a persons’ skin without going deep into tissue

2. Argon Laser

• This laser only goes short distance into tissue

• This treatment option is useful for treating skin and eye cancers

• It can be used alone or in combination with light sensitive medication to kill cancer cells which is a treatment called photodynamic therapy

3. Nd:YAG Laser

• This laser can go deep into tissue and make blood clot more quickly for less bleeding

• It can be put through flexible tubes (endoscopes) to get to hard-to-reach parts of the body

• It can travel through optical fibres, which can be bent and put into a tumor to heat up and destroy it

Pros and Cons of Laser Treatment

Pros Cons

More precise Fewer doctors & nurses trained to use laser

Heat produced helps sterilize edges of body tissue

Costs a lot of money and is large in size (bulky)

Less bleeding, swelling, pain and scarring

Strict safety precautions

Operating time is shorter Effects of laser surgery may not last long and may have to be repeated

Less damage to healthy tissue Sometimes laser cannot remove all of the tumor

Resources

• Meridian Health (2014). Advanced Technology to Treat Cancer. Retrieved from http://www.riverviewmedicalcenter.com/RMC/services/cancercenter/AdvancedTechnologytoTreatCancer.cfm

• Radiology Society of North America (2013, March 7). Linear Accelerator. Retrieved from http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=linac

• Varian Medical Systems (n.d). IGRT Overview. Retrieved from http://www.varian.com/euen/oncology/treatments/treatment_techniques/IGRT/

• Anonymous (2012, July 4). How Advances In Medical Technology Have Made Out Lives Better. Retrieved from http://www.lotusconnectionsblog.com/2012/07/04/how-advances-in-medical-technology-have-made-our-lives-easier/

• The Royal College of Radiologists (n.d). Linear Accelerator. Retrieved from http://www.goingfora.com/text/oncology/treatmentRadiotherapy_equipment.asp

• Unknown (2014, March 26). Linear Particle Accelerator. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_particle_accelerator

• Patel Hospital (n.d). Pros and Cons of Linear Accelerator VS Cobalt. Retrieved from http://www.patelhospital.com/Advantage%20of%20linear%20accelerator.aspx

• American Brain Tumor Association (2014). Gamma Knife – Cobalt-60 Therapy. Retrieved from http://www.abta.org/brain-tumor-treatment/treatments/stereotactic-radiosurgery/gamma-knife.html

• Mayo Clinic Staff (2011, Dec 5). Image-guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT). Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/image-guided-radiation-therapy/basics/definition/prc-20013256

• T Gupta & C Anand Narayan (2012). Image-guided Radiation Therapy: Physician’s Perspectives. Retrieved from http://www.jmp.org.in/article.asp?issn=0971-6203;year=2012;volume=37;issue=4;spage=174;epage=182;aulast=Gupta

• American Cancer Society (2013, July 23). Lasers in Cancer Treatment. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/treatmenttypes/lasers-in-cancer-treatment