Spinal Cancer Patient Finds New Hope at the Palo Alto Medical ...( Combining sophisticated robotic i...),Health

Combining sophisticated robotic image guidance tools and a controlled beam shaping device, the Novalis Tx platform enables clinicians to direct a precisely sculpted beam at a patient's tumor, while avoiding sensitive tissues nearby.

"The image-guidance tools enable us to verify repeatedly that the beam is accurately striking the intended target," said Gordon Ray, MD, director of the radiation oncology department at PAMF. "In Karen's case, these tools made it possible for us to deliver a very accurate treatment, even though the tumor was just millimeters away from her bowel, sacral, and peripheral nerves."

Dr. Ray continued, "With Novalis Tx, we can treat the full spectrum of cancer cases. The platform is versatile enough to deliver highly accurate radiotherapy treatments for prostate and other types of cancer, along with precise radiosurgery treatments for cancers of the lung and spine. We're able to adapt each treatment to the specific needs of our patients," he said.

About The Palo Alto Medical Foundation

The Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) for Health Care, Research and Education is a not-for-profit health care organization that is a pioneer in the multispecialty group practice of medicine. PAMF's 900 affiliated physicians and 4,000 employees serve more than 600,000 patients at its medical centers and clinics in Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties. PAMF is part of the Peninsula-Coastal Region of Sutter Health, one of the nation's leading not-for-profit networks of community-based health care providers. Sutter Health's Peninsula-Coast Region also includes Mills-Peninsula Health Services. For more information, visit www.pamf.org or www.sutterhealth.org.

About Varian Medical Systems

Varian Medical Sys
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