New Hope for Cancer Patients, Adventist Medical Center Takes Aim at Cancer

First Hospital in the Northwest Providing Sophisticated Technology Enabling Enhanced Cancer Treatment Accuracy

PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Adventist Medical Center is taking cancer treatment to new levels with the only technology in the Northwest designed to provide complex radiation therapy delivered with extreme accuracy. The Agility technology system promises cancer patients a new level of precision and delivery speed in radiation therapy treatments. This new technology is allowing Adventist Medical Center clinicians the ability to provide sophisticated cancer treatment solutions for patients, with a lower risk of side effects. 

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130107/DC37474)

"As a physician, it is imperative that we have the safest and most accurate technology to treat those battling cancer," says Aaron Hicks, MD., Radiation Oncologist at Adventist Medical Center. "We are using this potentially life-saving technology because we believe patients deserve the very best options to treat cancer."

Agility supports Adventist Medical Center's commitment to offer patients the most advanced cancer treatment possible, keeping pace with rapidly accelerating advancements in disease understanding and approaches.  

Details of the Advanced Cancer Treatment
Agility allows sophisticated customization of the radiation beam that is directed to the cancer patient's tumor. External beam radiation is delivered by a device called a linear accelerator, also known as a linac. The head of the linac holds a multi-leaf collimator (MLC) that employs multiple moving tungsten leaves to block portions of the radiation beam, shaping it as it exits the device. The more the shape of the beam conforms to the shape of the tumor, the more accurately it targets the tumor.

The more accurate the treatment, the less existing potential for damage to surrounding tissues. The rapid, highly accurate technology, enables higher treatment dose rates and improved beam shaping, resulting in improved patient outcomes with reduced side effects.

About Adventist Medical Center (AMC)  Adventist Medical Center (AMC), located in southeast Portland, is a nonprofit, 302-bed acute care facility, offering a full range of inpatient, outpatient and emergency services throughout the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area.  It is home to Adventist Health-Portland, which includes more than 30 primary care and specialty clinics in the metro area. 

Adventist Health-Portland is part of Adventist Health, a faith-based, not-for-profit integrated health care delivery system serving communities in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington.

Our workforce of 28,700 includes more than 21,000 employees; 4,500 medical staff physicians; and 3,000 volunteers. Founded on Seventh-day Adventist health values, Adventist Health provides compassionate care in 19 hospitals, more than 150 clinics (hospital-based, rural health and physician clinics), 14 home care agencies, six hospice agencies and four joint-venture retirement centers. We invite you to visit our website at www.adventisthealthnw.com for more information.

Media Contacts:
Judy Leach, Director
Adventist Health
(503) 251-6162
[email protected]

SOURCE Adventist Medical Center