When Speed Saves
Survivor: Sabin Robbins
At age 75, Sabin Robbins remains very active, swimming 70 laps per day and spending the winter months giving talks about animals on cruise ships. Then, last year, he learned he had prostate cancer. “I felt very healthy,” said Robbins. “I didn’t pay much attention when family and friends suggested that I go in for a physical. Eventually, though, I gave in and agreed to a routine checkup, and the tests revealed that I had prostate cancer! I feel very fortunate that I caught this cancer before more time went by.”
Robbins was also fortunate to be among the first people in South Florida to benefit from treatment with new RapidArc™ radiotherapy. RapidArc, which is made by Varian Medical Systems, unleashes the precision of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) two to eight times faster than was previously possible. A RapidArc-equipped linear accelerator delivers daily treatments in a single rotation.
“RapidArc allows us to precisely shape the treatment beam to the tumor,” said Bruce Greene, M.D., director of radiation oncology at Bethesda. “Compared with conventional IMRT treatment plans, we are able to spare more normal tissue with RapidArc. Because of this accuracy, we expect that we can improve clinical outcomes and reduce unwanted side effects.”
RapidArc radiotherapy technology has now been used for the treatment of prostate, head and neck, lung, brain, spine, bone, gynecological and soft tissue cancers.