The biggest challenge an oncologist faces is precision and the inability to actually see how radiation is affecting the patient. But now thanks to a scientific breakthrough oncologists have been bestowed with a new and potent tool. This scientific breakthrough will immensely increase the precision of radiation oncology and raise the safety standards for cancer patients. Doctors would actually be able to see powerful beams of linear accelerator as they enter or exit the patient’s body.
The research began by scrutinizing a scientific phenomenon called Cherenkov Effect around two years ago. Scientists and engineers postulated that utilizing Cherenkov emissions would render beams of radiation visible for the treatment team. This in turn will allow to asses certain conditions like never before such as:
This is the first time this particular technology is being used to carry out actual test on human subjects. The very first test subject was a female breast cancer patient that required radiation therapy. "Breast cancer is suited for this because the imaging visualizes the superficial dose of radiation to the skin," declared Lesley A. Jarvis, MD, radiation oncologist, Norris Cotton Cancer Center. Skin irritations and reactions akin to sunburn are common byproducts of using radiation during breast cancer treatment. "By imaging and quantifying the surface dose in a way that has never been done before, we hope to learn more about the physical factors contributing to this skin reaction." Jarvis further added.
Rendering the radiation visible will allow the oncologists and physicists at Norris Cotton Cancer to gauge the effect it has on the body. Doctors will now be able to adjust the dosage accordingly to avoid side effects to the skin. Radiation therapy is a lengthy process with a typical patient requiring 8-20 sessions. Thanks to Cherenkov Effect and images received via it doctors were able to detect and pinpoint a hotspot in the underarm of the breast cancer patient. Physicians and physicists would now be able to do comprehensive work in order to avoid such effects in the future sessions.
"The actual images show that we are treating the exact correct location, with the appropriate beam modifications and with the precise dose of radiation, we have learned the imaging is easy to incorporate into the patient's treatment, adding only minimal time to the treatments," said Jarvis.
- • How radiation signals permeate and travel through the human anatomy
- • Effects of radiation dosage on skin
- • Any errors in dosage quantity
This is the first time this particular technology is being used to carry out actual test on human subjects. The very first test subject was a female breast cancer patient that required radiation therapy. "Breast cancer is suited for this because the imaging visualizes the superficial dose of radiation to the skin," declared Lesley A. Jarvis, MD, radiation oncologist, Norris Cotton Cancer Center. Skin irritations and reactions akin to sunburn are common byproducts of using radiation during breast cancer treatment. "By imaging and quantifying the surface dose in a way that has never been done before, we hope to learn more about the physical factors contributing to this skin reaction." Jarvis further added.
Rendering the radiation visible will allow the oncologists and physicists at Norris Cotton Cancer to gauge the effect it has on the body. Doctors will now be able to adjust the dosage accordingly to avoid side effects to the skin. Radiation therapy is a lengthy process with a typical patient requiring 8-20 sessions. Thanks to Cherenkov Effect and images received via it doctors were able to detect and pinpoint a hotspot in the underarm of the breast cancer patient. Physicians and physicists would now be able to do comprehensive work in order to avoid such effects in the future sessions.
"The actual images show that we are treating the exact correct location, with the appropriate beam modifications and with the precise dose of radiation, we have learned the imaging is easy to incorporate into the patient's treatment, adding only minimal time to the treatments," said Jarvis.