To put it mildly, cancer throws a wrench in your quality of life. Thankfully, advances in medical technology like the Varian TrueBeam™ Linear Accelerator can make fighting a diagnosis easier and more effective. Fairview Range Medical Center in Hibbing is proud to house this technology in its Radiation Therapy department. This gives our community the same level of cancer care as healthcare systems in Duluth and the Twin Cities, right here in Hibbing. TrueBeam™ technology not only gives patients better care, but it also gives them more flexibility in their care.
What is the Varian TrueBeam™ Linear Accelerator?
TrueBeam™ is a breakthrough technology that offers radiation oncologists many options in removing tumors noninvasively. It is a large scale machine that consists of a bed-like platform and a rotating arm. It circulates around the patient delivering beamed radiation to tumors. This advanced system is noninvasive. Patients simply lie on the bed and the radiation team uses the machine to deliver treatment. It is typically quick and more comfortable than other options.
What are the benefits of TrueBeam™?
There are many impressive aspects of this machine, but one of its most unique is its imaging capabilities. Using high-tech advancements, TrueBeam™ can create images of the tumor so clinicians have a better idea of what they are treating. This image influences the beam treatment. The beam is shaped by a multileaf collimator (MLC) that matches the tumor images. By understanding the size and location of the tumor, TrueBeam™ and the Fairview Range team can treat tumors with precision. This helps patients better fight off cancerous cells and not impact healthy tissues around the tumor.
Another component of imaging that keeps surrounding organs and cells safe is a cone-beam computed tomography (CT) scan. This delivers 25% less radiation than other CTs.
There are several other benefits to this medical technology, too. First, it creates shorter appointments for patients. The actual treatment time is less than two minutes. This leads to more precise treatments due to the short amount of time the patient spends on the treatment table and less chance of a patient moving. This allows patients to get back to their life faster.
“We are so proud to provide world-class cancer treatment to our community and surrounding areas,” said Dr. Henry Lee, Radiation Oncologist at Fairview Range. “It is truly life-changing for patients to be able to stay close to home for their treatments and receive the same advanced care they would get in Duluth or the Twin Cities.”
Comfort is also an asset of the Linear Accelerator. The machine is not enclosed and your care team is in contact with you the entire time. Patients can even decide to listen to music during their treatment period. The goal is to make the experience as pleasant as possible.
Another benefit of TrueBeam™ is its versatility. It can treat many types of cancerous and noncancerous growths. How? The machine hosts an array of treatment tech options, including RapicArc® radiotherapy technology, image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), external beam radiation therapy (3-D), deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH), and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).
Having so many options so close to home is a gamechanger for those facing cancer on the Iron Range. People can get the care they need close to home without spending time and money on travel and hotel stays in other areas of the state.
Find Your Cancer Care at Fairview Range
Fairview Range is proud to offer full-time comprehensive medical oncology and radiation therapy services. If you’re facing cancer treatment, talk to your provider about receiving your treatment close to home in Hibbing. We are here for you.
“We have an amazing care team that is here for you throughout the entire cancer journey,” said Sheila Doering, Manager of Radiation Therapy at Fairview Range. “Every one of our staff — from the front desk to our nurses, therapists, and dosimetrists, and to our physicists and Radiation Oncologist — are professional, friendly, and always puts the patient first, every time.”
For more information about our radiation therapy services, please call 800-662-8939 or 218-362-6784.