ANCHORAGE, Alaska—
There has been an estimated 2,860 new cases of cancer diagnosed in Alaska this year according to the American Cancer Society.A new piece of high tech equipment is allowing Alaskans to stay closer to home for their cancer treatment.
The Anchorage Radiation Therapy Center at Alaska Regional Hospital is now home to an Elekta Synergy Image Guided Radiation Therapy System. The machine supercharges high energy electrons into a target.
“It essentially creates forward moving energy, which we can harvest to do work. In this case, it's the work of killing cancer cells,” said Dr. Clare Bertucio.
Bertucio likes to brag about the machine and she's good at explaining why it's one of the most advanced radiation therapy machines in the world.
“With this new machine, we have the ability to give a higher dose to our target tumors organ while sparing the normal surrounding tissue. So it affectively allows us to have a higher possibility of controlling or getting rid of a tumor, but also not damaging the normal tissue,” said Bertucio.
The system is so advanced it can move in just about any direction to deliver the radiation to exact part of the body.
“Radiation can be dangerous if it’s not done correctly,” said Dr. Richard Chung, who runs the Radiation Treatment Center.
Chung has been at the center for 16 years. He's seen radiation therapy come a long way.
“This machine is being used in many other very famous cancer centers in the country,” said Chung.
According to Chung, the Elekta Synergy Machine is the only one in Alaska, but that's not what makes it so special.
“We love to be a part of our community and treat the patients that live in our community,” Chung said.
“To be able to offer this technology right here… When you're getting treated for anything, but for cancer it’s so much nicer to be at home and be with your family, to be in a familiar surrounding. But you also want the very best,” said Bertucio.
Most cancer patients spend anywhere from two to seven weeks in radiation therapy.
