Niagara Health Introduces Cutting-Edge Cancer Treatment Technology
Niagara Health’s Walker Family Cancer Centre (WFCC) has upgraded its cancer treatment capabilities with the introduction of the Varian Edge linear accelerator, becoming the first centre in Ontario to adopt this advanced technology.
“Our team of highly skilled professionals at the WFCC is dedicated to delivering safe and effective cancer care,” says Dr. Adrian Ishkanian, Physician Lead, Radiation Medicine at WFCC. “This new technology will allow them to provide personalized, compassionate, and high-quality treatment for our patients.”
The Varian Edge linear accelerator enables highly precise radiation treatments, customizing the radiation beam to match the shape and location of each patient’s tumour. This precision allows physicians to target cancer more accurately while minimizing radiation exposure to healthy tissues.
“The field has evolved significantly,” notes Mike Moore, a medical physicist at WFCC. “We’ve moved from using large metal blocks to shield specific areas to now having machines that can precisely target tumours.”
The new technology offers several advantages, including better targeting of the radiation dose, the ability to treat smaller tumours with higher precision, and accelerated imaging and treatment delivery. These improvements could shorten individual treatment sessions and increase the number of patients that can be treated daily.
The introduction of the Varian Edge is part of a larger equipment refresh cycle supported by Ontario Health and the Niagara Health Foundation. The radiation medicine team at WFCC worked extensively to select this technology, prioritizing its ability to deliver complex treatments safely and efficiently.
Delivering radiation treatment is a team effort, requiring collaboration among various professionals. WFCC radiation therapists have undergone extensive training to operate the new machine, including super-user training sessions, individual and group orientations, and updates to policies and procedures.
“This upgrade is a game-changer,” says Moore. “We’re excited to continue advancing our practice and improving the experience for patients in our region.”
With the new Varian Edge in place, Niagara Health is poised to enhance cancer treatment for patients across the region, providing a faster, safer, and more precise experience throughout the treatment process.
