Advanced Technologies Enhance Safety and Comfort for Cancer Patients Receiving Radiation Treatment

Luis Carrascosa, MD

Innovative new technologies being used exclusively by Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, LLC (FCS) in Ocala and The Villages are helping to target tumors more precisely, reduce side effects and enhance comfort for patients receiving radiation therapy for the treatment of certain cancers, including breast cancer and head and neck cancers.

Luis Carrascosa, MD, FCS board-certified radiation oncologist, provided details in a recent interview with The Villages Daily Sun.

Radiation therapy remains one of the most effective and commonly used methods for treating cancer, but it can sometimes cause unintentional side effects, including harm to nearby organs as well as patient discomfort.

Surface guided radiotherapy (SGRT) uses three-dimensional camera technology to accurately target and kill cancer cells. With the capability to monitor thousands of points on the skin with immense accuracy and without contact, it ensures that the patient is correctly positioned at all times and that nearby organs are protected. If a patient moves out of the ideal position, the radiation beam will automatically pause and protect healthy tissues from radiation.

Traditional radiation therapy requires the placement of small, but permanent tattoo marks on the skin to help radiation therapists position patients for treatment. SGRT eliminates the need for any permanent markings, often unwelcome reminders of cancer treatment.

SGRT also enables the use of Deep Inspiration Breath Hold, a technique that involves taking a deep breath to move the breast away from the heart during radiation therapy. Unlike traditional methods of blocking the heart, this technique creates more separation between a tumor and the heart, making breast cancer treatment more precise.

As an alternative for patients who cannot hold their breath or who have large breasts, the technique can be used to deliver radiation treatment in the prone position (lying on the stomach).

Additionally, SGRT allows for the use of an open mask to help position the head during treatment for brain or head and neck cancers. The traditional closed mask can be particularly challenging for patients who are claustrophobic.

These and other rapidly advancing modern technologies are offered by Dr. Carrascosa and the expert team of radiation oncologists at the state-of-the-art FCS Ocala Cancer Center. The first and only comprehensive center of its kind in Marion County, the center serves patients needing treatment for a broad range of cancers, blood disorders and other diseases.

FCS continues to make investments in highly sophisticated stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic radiotherapy treatments that increasingly result in shorter treatment schedules, improved outcomes, decreased cost and enhanced patient comfort convenience.