New Cancer Treatment Comes to Buffalo

by Annette Pinder

When I walked through the doors of CCS Oncology for a press conference announcing a new $5 million tumor targeting system – one of only ten in the United States, I had no idea what to expect. When I left I felt like I understood why people today may live longer.

As I received the grand tour to learn about the new and most advanced tumor targeting system available today, I had the sensation I was entering the movie set of Star Wars. Clinicians operate three closed circuit television systems and a two-way audio system allowing them to monitor the patient from outside the treatment room. They view the patient’s tumor with precision – even following it as it moves with each breath the patient takes.

In the treatment room stands the imposing futuristic machine that may revolutionize the way physicians can administer radiation with speed and precision, pinpointing the exact location of the tumor. Dr. W. Sam Yi, M.D., medical director at CCS says, “This technology is a real game-changer that will enable us to treat even the most challenging cases with speed and precision. It breaks the mold in just about every dimension, making it possible to offer faster, more targeted treatments to tumors even as they move within the body and change over time.”

Yi explains that when clinicians can actually “see” tumors and target them with sub millimeter accuracy, nearby healthy tissue and critical organs are protected. Other tools synchronize beam delivery with tumor motion, helping to maintain accuracy. Yi says, “Intelligent automation further speeds treatments with a big reduction in the number of steps needed for treating patients compared with earlier technology. Complex radiation treatments may now only take 1/3 the time it did previously. And because the technology is able to generate 3-D images of the tumor faster than was previously possible, it also minimizes the amount of X-ray dose a patient receives.”

The technology, called TrueBeam STx, is a breakthrough that enhances our ability to treat all types of cancer with noninvasive image-guided radiosurgery,” said Dr. Yi. “It represents a quantum leap in terms of the spectrum of options we can offer patients fighting cancer. Now I am able to offer new hope and a better quality of life for many with previously ‘untreatable’ cancers.”

CCS Oncology treats all types of cancer including brain, head and neck, lung, liver, prostate, breast, gastrointestinal and gynecological. Utilizing the latest techniques makes it possible to treat certain types of brain, lung and liver cancers without doing open surgery. Additionally, CCS is the only treatment center in WNY to offer CT-guided prostate seed implanting, resulting in faster treatment and fewer side effects.

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Board certified radiation oncologists Dr. W. Sam Yi, Dr. Kyu Shin and Dr. Johnny Yap lead a highly qualified staff of board certified medical physicists, medical dosimetrists, nurses, and radiation therapists.

CCS Oncology locations include 2950 Elmwood Avenue in Kenmore, 810 Davison Road in Lockport and a new location at 45 Spindrift Drive in Williamsville. For more information, visit www.ccsoncology.com or call (716) 810-9631.