COLUMBUS, Ga., Feb. 18, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tidwell Cancer Treatment Center, a leader in innovation for radiation therapy became the first site in Georgia to offer AccuBoost DV, for treatment of patients with early stage breast cancer. The AccuBoost DV (for dual vector) utilizes a single image for targeting the dose to the breast from two opposing directions. AccuBoost DV is designed to reduce the time of the procedure by over 50% and make the procedure simpler for patients.
Tidwell Cancer Treatment Center is among the first group of facilities to receive the upgrade to AccuBoost DV. The installation of the new system was completed on February 18, 2009. Patients in Columbus, Georgia are among the first, nationwide, to be treated with the new targeted therapy. There are over 20 sites in the U.S. offering the AccuBoost procedure including teaching hospitals, community hospitals and freestanding radiation oncology centers.
"Tidwell Cancer Treatment Center is excited to be among the first group of facilities in the U.S. to introduce the second generation AccuBoost procedure," stated Thomas Jackson Tidwell, M.D. FACRO. "We strive to offer the latest innovations and are looking for ways to improve the outcomes for our cancer patients," added Dr. Tidwell.
"Advanced Radiation Therapy is pleased to upgrade the AccuBoost System at Tidwell Cancer Treatment Center. The new AccuBoost DV System streamlines the procedure and helps with targeting of the dose based on a single image," stated Piran Sioshansi, Ph.D., President and CEO of Advanced Radiation Therapy. "The increased accuracy of AccuBoost and its ability to spare radiation to healthy tissue should contribute to better outcomes and improved cosmetic results," adds Dr Sioshansi.
The Tidwell Cancer Treatment Center once again leads the community in cutting edge radiation therapy technology for breast cancer. Working as a team with their patients, their families and other physicians, they provide the finest radiation cancer treatment available in a caring and compassionate environment. The Tidwell Cancer Treatment Center is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, a nonprofit organizations dedicated to raising the level of safety and quality of care in all health care settings.
ART is a company dedicated to providing innovative treatments for partial breast irradiation for the benefit of women. ART's AccuBoost system combines real-time, image-guided radiation therapy with non-invasive, high dose brachytherapy to deliver a focused dose to the lumpectomy site. The AccuBoost technology is based on the premise that the best method to immobilize, image and target breast tissue is via mammography. As such, AccuBoost allows clinicians to "see what you treat and treat what you see" while eliminating the radiation exposure to the patient's heart and lungs. For more information, visit www.AccuBoost.com.
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Press Conference: Tidwell Cancer Treatment Center Launches AccuBoost(r) DV for Image-Guided Breast Irradiation Synopsis: TCTC was the first freestanding radiation therapy facility in Georgia to receive the latest non-invasive breast cancer treatment system. Focusing on patient comfort, the recently released AccuBoost DV system substantially accelerates the treatment process. Advanced Radiation Therapy, selected the Tidwell Cancer Treatment Center as one of the national launch sites for this new product because of its reputation for leading the community in cutting edge cancer care. Location: Tidwell Cancer Treatment Center 2121 Warm Springs Road Columbus, GA 31904 Phone: 706-660-8121 Date: Friday, February 20, 2009 Time: 11:30 AM Contact: Whitney Smith Assistant Director of Community Relationships Office (706) 507-3845 Cell (706) 442-0201