Patients with difficult-to-treat cancers can now access care at Europe’s newest and most advanced radiotherapy centre, based at Cromwell Hospital.
The radiotherapy centre, run by GenesisCare, specialises in complex and difficult-to-treat tumours and houses three of the most cutting-edge radiotherapy technologies in the world – MRIdian MR Linac, Gamma Knife Icon, and Varian Edge*. These technologies improve outcomes by enhancing the precision of treatment, limiting side effects and shortening treatment times.
The equipment used in the centre includes the Varian Edge Linac, designed to deliver stereotactic brain and spinal surgery, stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), and volumetric modulated arc therapy. It has the highest dose rate in the industry, resulting in less time in treatment. Stereotactic radiotherapy is a cancer treatment that targets tumours in fewer high-dose treatments that preserve healthy tissue.
Greater accuracy, fewer side effects
It’s also home to the latest Gamma Knife Icon.
GenesisCare’s Neuro-Oncology Lead, Dr Anup Vinayan, explains why this is such an important piece of equipment: “The Gamma Knife Icon is one of the most sophisticated systems for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), delivering the highest possible accuracy. SRS targets tumours at many different angles around the body at the same time with the beams meeting at a single point. This delivers a high dose of radiation to the tumour while ensuring the healthy tissue around it receives a much lower dose and reduces the risk of side effects. It is often called ‘brain-sparing’ surgery because of its ability to protect healthy brain tissue and preserve quality of life for people needing treatment for brain tumours.”
Improved outcomes and quality of life
The MRIdian MR Linac, available at the hospital in early 2021, will be the first of its kind in London for non-research use.
“It allows clinicians to ‘see as they treat’, using live images of the tumour and surrounding healthy tissue to continually adjust the radiation beam for more precise treatment targeting,” said Dr Vinayan.
The centre will also give patients access to a personalised exercise medicine programme tailored to every patient for their treatment, cancer type, and overall health. Complementary wellbeing therapies are also available to help manage side effects and reduce stress.
Hospital Director, Philip Luce, Cromwell Hospital, comments: “As cancer rates continue to rise, it is encouraging that we’re finding new ways to give people access to better and quicker treatment. As a centre of excellence for cancer care, we’re proud to be opening this new radiotherapy facility and to provide our UK and international patients with cutting-edge treatment, resulting in better outcomes.”
GenesisCare UK General Manager, James McArthur, said: “We’re delighted to be opening GenesisCare’s 14th cancer treatment centre in UK, right in the heart of London. We are also pleased to extend our partnership with Cromwell Hospital to provide a seamless care pathway, adopting the latest techniques essential for achieving the right care outcomes. This is of significant importance right now to ensure cancer patients receive the best care possible and don’t delay essential treatment.”