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Melissa Weisstuch
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White Plains, NY - January 14, 2009 - White Plains Hospital Center is the first hospital in the Westchester/Fairfield region - and among the first providers in the New York metropolitan area - to have the new RapidArc radiotherapy technology. Treatment with the RapidArc linear accelerator, using advanced technology from Varian Medical Systems, is two to eight times faster than conventional radiotherapy. The new linear accelerator began operating at the Hospital's Dickstein Cancer Treatment Center in December. "We are very excited to be able to offer patients this excellent treatment option," says Randy Stevens, M.D., director of radiation oncology at the Dickstein Center. "RapidArc technology also enables us to provide treatment that spares more healthy tissue from the effects of radiation."
RapidArc technology delivers image-guided IMRT (intensity-modulated radiation therapy) very quickly, in a single 360-degree rotation of the treatment machine around the patient. "RapidArc will be much easier on the patient," says Dr. Stevens. "It's hard for people to hold still for long periods of time. By delivering doses more quickly, we can simultaneously improve the quality of care and make our patients more comfortable."
"RapidArc has the potential to improve the quality of care and of patient comfort for many types of cancer, while making radiation oncology a more affordable treatment. That is a huge win for everybody," says Dr. Stevens.
