Tomotherapy - What to Expect?

What is TomoTherapy?

TomoTherapy is one of the latest advantages in radiation delivery treatment systems. It is a safe, effective, non-invasive radiation therapy option integrating computer tomography (CT) with radiation delivery. The TomoTherapy System allows doctors to take 3D CT images of the patient's tumour and send targeted radiation from all directions. Because it is an image-guided system, it is possible to send radiation to the tumour only and minimise the risk of damage to the healthy tissue surrounding it. The imaging system also allows doctors to compare the changes to the tumour and the effectiveness of the radiation therapy on each day of treatment.

What is Tomotherapy, and what are the side effects of Tomotherapy?

Radiation therapy or radiotherapy is commonly used to shrink tumours and kill cancer cells. It involves the administration of high doses of radiation delivered through a linear accelerator. Radiation is one of the more common treatment protocols used in cancer treatment. TomoTherapy is one of the latest advances in radiotherapy. It combines imaging and radiation delivery systems that make it possible to target the cancer cells and reduce damage to surrounding cells.

What is the purpose of Tomo Therapy?

TomoTherapy treatment is mainly used to deliver high doses of radiation therapy to tumours. This causes the tumours to shrink and kills cancer cells. TomoTherapy is most useful in the treatment of deep-seated tumours that are either inoperable or have a high risk of damaging surrounding tissue if operated upon. Apart from different malignant tumours, other conditions, such as Acoustic neuroma and Trigeminal neuralgia, are also treated through TomoTherapy. BLK-MAX provides the best treatment and charges a minimal tomotherapy cost.

How Does TomoTherapy Treatment Work?

The oncologists and radiologists at BLK-Max Hospital will study the tumour and develop an individualised TomoTherapy treatment plan. This plan is based on 3D CT images of the tumour taken before the start of treatment. The TomoTherapy system allows your doctors to deliver radiation therapy to the tumour's precise location, shape, and size. The TomoTherapy system will also enable them to determine the radiation dose needed to shrink the tumour without affecting the surrounding tissue. These high dose radiation beams are now delivered to the tumours from several directions, making them more effective and reducing the need for multiple radiation sessions.

What are the Advantages of Tomo Therapy?

The advantages of TomoTherapy include -

• Real-time imaging of tumours through the course of the radiotherapy treatment.
• Delivery of radiation conforms to the location, size and shape of the tumour.
• Radiation dose modulation with higher dose targeted at tumour and less or no radiation of surrounding tissue

One of the most significant advantages of TomoTherapy over conventional radiotherapy is the delivery of radiation beams from several angles. This improves the effectiveness of radiation therapy, increases the success rate by shrinking the tumour, and killing cancer cells. It also makes for a shorter duration of treatment.

What are the side effects of Tomotherapy?

Before starting treatment, you should discuss the possible side effects and risks with your oncologist at BLK-Max Hospital. Some of the common side effects of TomoTherapy include –

• Skin changes - Dryness, irritation, blistering, and itching experienced after radiation.
• Fatigue - TomoTherapy causes high levels of fatigue or exhaustion
• Site-specific side effects - Depending on the site of radiation delivery, you may experience some symptoms. If the radiation is delivered to the brain, you may experience headaches and vision problems.

A number of the side effects go away with time, and some may be long lasting.

Frequently Asked Questions -

What to Expect From TomoTherapy Treatment?

TomoTherapy is similar to conventional radiation therapy. However, the combination of imaging and targeted delivery of radiation offers a higher success rate than traditional radiation. In addition, the surrounding healthy tissue is less likely to be damaged, making it a more effective treatment option.

Is TomoTherapy a type of IMRT?

TomoTherapy uses intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). This means that the intensity of the radiation delivered is matched to the tumour shapes. In addition, the intensity of the radiation is modulated to spare surrounding healthy tissue.

What is the difference between TomoTherapy and linear accelerator?

A medical linear accelerator (LINAC) is a machine used to deliver radiotherapy to cancer patients. The device is used to concentrate radiation beams and conform to the specific shape and size of the tumour. It thus destroys cancer cells while sparing surrounding tissue. Helical Tomotherapy delivery promises better radiation delivery than all other LINAC delivery systems.

What is the difference between TomoTherapy and IMRT?

TomoTherapy uses IMRT or intensity-modulated radiation therapy. This means that the radiation doses delivered are targeted at the tumour, only sparing the surrounding healthy tissue, which receives low or no radiation.