The Medical City Acquires Latest Technology in Customized Cancer Treatment

Premier health institution The Medical City introduces an innovative non-invasive radiotherapy technology that represents a giant leap in terms of precise, personalized and customized cancer treatment.

TMC is the first and currently, the only Philippine hospital, to acquire TrueBeam Linear Accelerator, an advanced radiation therapy system that offers a wide range of options for treating tumors including those that are more complex in nature. With the expanded power and flexibility provided by TrueBeam, clinicians are able to develop treatments that are best suited for patients' individual circumstances.

TrueBeam is created by Varian Medical Systems, the world's leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions.

TrueBeam allows doctors to virtually see and target tumors anywhere in the body, precisely matching their size, shape, and even motion. With this latest technology, treatment can now be customized with pinpoint accuracy, reducing the risk of damage to healthy tissue andsparing the patient from unnecessary pain and lengthy procedures.

The precision of the TrueBeam system is measured in increments of less than a millimeter. This accuracy is made possible by the system’s sophisticated architecture, which synchronizes imaging, patient positioning, motion management, beam shaping and dose delivery, performing accuracy checks every ten milliseconds throughout the entire treatment.

TrueBeam’s pinpoint accuracy allows clinicians to treat many different types of tumors, including those in sensitive areas such as the abdomen, liver, lung, breast, and head and neck. Treatments focus powerful radiation on the tumor while minimizing exposure of surrounding healthy tissues.

This latest technology being offered by TMC Cancer Center’s Radiation Oncology Department also offers shorter treatment times leading to less interruption of patient’s daily lives. Treatments that once took 10 to 30 minutes can now be completed in less than two minutes, thus reducing patient’s discomfort. Faster treatment times also allow for reduced chance of tumor motion during treatment, which makes delivery more accurate and helps to protect nearby healthy tissue and critical organs.

TrueBeam can be used for many forms of advanced treatment techniques including image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and RapidArc® radiotherapy technology. Because of this, patients can receive the treatment that is best suited for their specific clinical circumstances.

“No two cancers are the same, and so no two treatments should be the same. That is why we constantly seek new and better ways to provide patients with the customized care they truly deserve,” said Dr. Daniel Alonzo, director of TMC Cancer Center.

“TrueBeam allows us to give our patients yet another world-class treatment option that is truly safe, fast, precise, and above all, truly customized,” added Dr. Gaudencio Vega, chairman of the Radiation Oncology Department.

For more information, please call the Radiation Oncology Department at telephone nos. 988-1000 or 9888-7000 ext. 6102.