Buyers Speak
RADIXACT X9 with Synchrony: The next-gen radiation therapy
It is quite safe to say that cancer is a ticking time bomb and ready to explode in the generations to come. We must be prepared for a future where the hospitals see a substantial increase in cancer cases daily.
Cancer treatment – A race against time
As per Globacon estimates, cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, accounting for 19.3 million new cases and 10 million deaths in 2020. This burden is further expected to rise by about 47 percent through 2040, accounting for nearly 28.4 million cases. India accounted for about 13 lac cases and 8.5 lac related deaths in 2020.
One of the key strategies to reduce cancer burden includes primary prevention through reducing risk factors, such as tobacco, physical inactivity, obesity, exposure to potential carcinogens, etc. This could prevent about 30-50 percent of all new cancer cases globally. Other important strategies include early detection through genetic mapping, medical testing in high-risk patients, etc., and improved cancer treatment available for detected cases.
Newer radiation therapy to improve QoL in cancer patients
The life expectancy of cancer survivors has improved significantly over time due to continuous improvement in cancer treatment. But evidence suggests a poor QoL in most patients due to side effects of treatment. This has led to an increased interest in reducing the side effects of cancer therapy to enable patients to enjoy a good quality of life during their survival. It also allows the patient to have a greater sense of control over cancer and treatment, thereby impacting survival rates.
Advancements in technology have led to the development of a newer generation of radiation therapies, such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), volume-modulated arc therapy (VMAT), stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), FLASH, brachytherapy, particle therapy, etc., which allows a highly precise prescribed dose to the tumor cells while sparing healthy tissues. All these techniques make use of image guidance and inter- and intrafraction motion control to deliver a precise dose. Image guidance allows real-time tumor imaging during radiation, while inter- and intrafraction motion control allows radiation dose modification due to change in tumor size and shape, change in bladder and bowel filling, breathing, and heartbeat.
The new Radixact X9 with Synchrony technology in India
Conventional radiation-treatment systems require the clinicians to make multiple adjustments to compensate for respiratory motion, affecting the clinical outcomes, treatment delivery cost, and patient satisfaction. The Radixact X9 system, the new-generation tomotherapy with Synchrony technology helps clinicians to overcome this problem to a great extent with a host of other clinical benefits for precise radiation therapy with minimum risk of side effects.
The Radixact system, with Synchrony technology by far yields superior clinical results as compared to other available linacs in treating head and neck, breast, GI and prostate cancers, which consolidate for more than 85 percent of occurrence in India.
Outlook
The number of new cancer cases is likely to double globally in the next 20 years, and there will be an increasing need for better cancer-treatment options available for all. Radiation therapy is one of the key pillars of cancer treatment, and continues to evolve at a faster rate as compared to other modalities of treatment owing to the growing role of data science and artificial intelligence in improving cancer care.
The Radixact X9 with Synchrony technology can prove to be a real asset to cancer treatment set-ups, and a potential game-changer in offering the best treatment outcome to cancer patients. Its unique combination of features enables the clinician to offer more personalized treatment and confidently deliver precise radiation dose directly to the target tissue with minimum risk to healthy cells.
In years to come, an integrated multi-disciplinary team approach, personalized strategies at all levels of care, and improved technology will help to shape the future of radiation oncology.
