Cancer Treatment Centers of America First in Midwest to Offer "GPS for the Body": Space-age Technology Helps Improve Accuracy of Radiation Treatment for Prostate Cancer Patients while Reducing Side Effects
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DATE RELEASED: 1/25/08
January 25, 2008 -- Chicago, IL -- Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Midwestern Regional Medical Center is the first hospital in the Midwest to offer the Calypso® 4D Localization System™, known as “GPS for the Body®.” FDA approved for use in the treatment of prostate cancer, the Calypso system helps doctors deliver focused doses of radiation with greater accuracy.
“The primary goal of all radiation therapy is to target tumors and spare surrounding healthy tissue and organs at all cost,” said Dr. Bernard Eden, director of radiation oncology at CTCA at Midwestern Regional Medical Center. “At CTCA, we offer cancer patients the most advanced and accurate radiation technology available so we can attack the disease as aggressively as possible while doing everything we can to minimize side effects. The Calypso system expands our treatment options for prostate cancer patients.”
Gary Eskelson, a 56-year-old software designer/entrepreneur, former NASA software programmer and prostate cancer patient, traveled to Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Midwestern Regional Medical Center from Houston, Texas seeking treatment for prostate cancer. The self-described “techy” chose CTCA on a recommendation from his general practitioner because he was offered the most advanced radiation technology along with other advanced cancer treatment options and support all under one roof.
“I made my decision based on all available information at this time and after speaking with countless men who have been diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer,” said Eskelson. “I was inspired by their stories and experience and chose CTCA because it was the best option for me.”
At CTCA, Eskelson was introduced to Dr. Eden and the most advanced radiation technology available for prostate cancer patients, including the new Calypso® 4D localization system. “I am quite confident in my decision to choose the external beam radiation therapy combined with Calypso,” said Eskelson. “It gives me great peace of mind to know that Dr. Eden will be able to continuously monitor the location of my prostate during radiation and make adjustments accordingly to protect vital organs.”
All tumors experience continuous positional changes due to normal body activity and organ motion. The Calypso GPS for the Body enables real-time, continuous monitoring of the tumor location during treatment and thus improves accuracy in targeting the prostate cancerous cells, while better protecting surrounding tissues and vital organs.
In an outpatient procedure, similar to a biopsy, three Beacon® transponders were implanted in Eskelson’s prostate. Each transponder is about as small as a grain of rice. During his radiation treatment, the Beacon transponders communicate with the Calypso system using safe, radiofrequency waves. The system shows exactly where the tumor is at all times during radiation treatment.
The Calypso system helps broaden radiation therapy options at Cancer Treatment Centers of America including TomoTherapy®, 3D Conformal Radiation, external beam radiation, high-dose rate brachytherapy, IMRT, MammoSite® and TheraSphere®.
“We work with each of our patients to provide them with the treatment options that best meet their individual needs,” said Dr. Eden. “There is no one-size-fits-all for treating cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, each year 218,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and each one of them deserves to have all of their treatment options explained to them so they can make a treatment decision based on what’s best for their condition.”
“I’m grateful to have found CTCA,” said Eskelson. “I’m a guy who’s used to being involved with literally space-age technology. To me, from a treatment and technology perspective, CTCA delivers a higher standard of care.”
For more information about the advanced cancer treatments offered at CTCA, go to http://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-treatments.cfm.
About Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Founded in 1988, Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) provides a comprehensive, patient-centered treatment model that fully integrates traditional, state-of-the-art medical treatments with scientifically-supported complementary and alternative therapies such as nutrition, naturopathy, psychological counseling, physical therapy and spiritual support to meet the special, whole-person needs of advanced-stage cancer patients. With a network of cancer treatment hospitals and community oncology programs in Illinois, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Washington, CTCA encourages patients and their families to participate in treatment decisions with its Patient Empowerment MedicineSM model.