Mercy Anderson Hospital has installed a new linear accelerator to improve radiation treatments for cancer.

        The new device, the Clinac 21EX Medical Linear Accelerator, plus the renovations needed to install it, cost about $2.9 million. The equipment is expected to be ready for patients by the end of January.

IF YOU GO

• What: Open house to see Mercy Anderson's new linear accelerator for cancer radiation treatment.   • When: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 24.   • Where: The hospital's cancer center, on the first floor of the hospital's Medical Arts Building. Mercy Anderson Hospital is 7500 State Road, Anderson Township.

        “This is the most advanced accelerator of its kind,” said Dr. Thomas Morand, medical director of the Mercy Anderson Cancer Center. “This reflects the Mercy health system's commitment to being a leader in oncology care.”

        Linear accelerators treat cancer tumors by blasting them with high-energy X-rays. They are most commonly used for treating lung, prostate and breast cancers, often in combination with surgery and chemotherapy.

        Mercy Anderson, like several other Tristate hospitals, already has a linear accelerator. However, the new device allows more precise shaping of radiation beams than older models, Dr. Morand said. That makes it possible to hit the tumor with up to 20 percent higher doses of radiation while reducing damage to healthy tissue near the tumor.

        Typically, patients receive 20 to 40 radiation treatments depending on the type of cancer. The hospital predicts it will treat 20 to 35 people a day with the new machine.

        The new device, however, will not fully replace Mercy Anderson's older linear accelerator. Some cancer tumors can still be treated with the older machine because they do not require specially shaped beams, Dr. Morand said.

        The new device is the second local upgrade in radiation treatments for cancer to be announced in the past three years.

        In 1998, the University of Cincinnati Medical Center installed a $2 million “X-knife” linear accelerator that uses computer-guided radiation beams to treat brain tumors.
       

Bob Braun was trouper to the end
Braun was friend to colleagues
Braun services Thursday
Corpse photos 'shock art'
Local missionaries survive El Salvador quake
Political intrigue roils Villa Hills
Villa Hills chronology
Residents join fight for fired chief, clerk
City schools dropping adult programs
Race discussions, march mark King holiday
First black legislator will get memorial
Cabinet nominee has local connections
Probe of Butler officials widened
PULFER: The granny defense
Accelerator packs more tumor blast
Airport OKs sound insulation
'Applause' finalists diverse
Housing proposal appears dead
Kentucky Digest
Local Digest
Mason High trains peer counselors
Newport city commission opposes hotel expansion
Panera Bread eyes Crestview Hills location
State will cover road work - this time
Talawanda schools to drop 'city' from district's name
Traveling troupe visits school kids
Water dispute likely to deepen
Book covers Ohio history by the letters
Crash kills Owenton teen
Fire hits old stone building
Sexual predator label disputed