2018 Oncology Annual Report

ATLANTICARE IS BRINGING THE MOST ADVANCED RADIATION TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY TO OUR PATIENTS

To ensure our patients have access to the latest treatment technologies, in 2018 the AtlantiCare Cancer Care Institute installed two of the latest- generation linear accelerators in our Radiation Oncology department. AtlantiCare radiation oncologists use these devices to deliver precisely focused beams of X-ray energy to shrink or eliminate solid-tumor cancers in major organs and other areas within the body. In particular, external-beam radiation therapy is widely used for prostate, breast and lung cancers, three of the most common malignancies in our community.

The new linear accelerators are among few around the world. The Varian TrueBeam is a sharpshooter and is effective against tumors that were considered untreatable in the past. This state-of-the-art technology reduces treatment time, while its effectiveness reduces the number of required sessions. Patients don’t need to travel to a major city for this treatment – it is available here in southeastern New Jersey. This technology is better for the patient and for families and loved ones. The accelerator times the dose and physically moves the patient in three dimensions to compensate for position, breathing and the tiniest movement of organs and muscles. Even if the patient coughs, sneezes or shifts position, it adjusts on the fly, keeping the radiation precisely where it belongs. The daily priority of Dr. James Wurzer, Medical Director, Radiation Oncology at the AtlantiCare Cancer Care Institute, is improving the quality of patients’ lives. “It’s truly an honor to care for cancer patients and see their success. There is no better privilege for a physician,” Dr. Wurzer says. “We continue to bring in the best equipment and staff to help our community – we are treating our friends and family. We are investing in our future.”

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