WellStar's New, Highly Targeted Therapy Shortens Cancer Treatment Time

MARIETTA, Ga., April 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- WellStar Health System continues to raise the level of cancer care available to its patients with the most advanced technology. WellStar Kennestone Hospital is one of three facilities in Georgia to offer TomoTherapy and one of only two in the United States to offer both TomoTherapy and CyberKnife, another leading cancer treatment.

The TomoTherapy System rotates 360 degrees around the patient, which allows radiation to be delivered from every direction, unlike traditional radiation treatment options. With TomoTherapy, WellStar radiologists can deliver radiation continuously to the tumor from every angle. Additionally, the TomoTherapy System uses CT scans at each radiation session to identify the exact position of the tumors during the treatment and adjusts to patients' movement. This allows the radiation oncologist to apply the radiation to only the affected tissue.

"The conformity and tracking capability allow us to target an intense amount of radiation exactly to the tumor site, while reducing negative impact on surrounding healthy tissue," said Mark McLaughlin, M.D., medical director of radiation oncology. "This combination can lead to improved outcomes for patients."

TomoTherapy is especially beneficial for patients with head, neck, lung, breast or prostate cancer. With the use of TomoTherapy, patients' treatment times are reduced and allow shorter courses of radiation.

"Because TomoTherapy is so effective, patients don't have to put their lives on hold," said McLaughlin. "Patients can go to their scheduled tee times and spend more time with loved ones."

WellStar Kennestone Hospital is a national training site for CyberKnife and is in the process of becoming a TomoTherapy training site. Physicians will travel to WellStar from around the country to learn how to perform this exciting new procedure.

About WellStar Health System

WellStar Health System is the largest not-for-profit health system in Georgia and serves a population of more than 1.4 million residents in five counties. The vision of WellStar is to deliver world-class healthcare. A national leader in the transformation of healthcare delivery, WellStar launched the Center for Health Transformation and has partnered with the Georgia Tech Research Institute leading to far-reaching effects on healthcare both locally and nationally. WellStar is regularly listed as a top employer nationally—most recently on the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For list. WellStar includes WellStar Kennestone Regional Medical Center (anchored by WellStar Kennestone Hospital) and WellStar Cobb, Douglas, Paulding and Windy Hill hospitals; WellStar Medical Group; Urgent Care Centers; Health Parks; Pediatric Center; Health Place; Homecare; Hospice; Atherton Place; Paulding Nursing and Rehabilitation Center; and the WellStar Foundation. For more information, call 770-956-STAR or visit wellstar.org.

SOURCE WellStar Health System

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