We offer among the most advanced, non-surgical technologies for radiation treatment of prostate cancer in the Bay Area. These technologies allow us to be minimally invasive while reducing common side effects.
We use various imaging modalities, such as ultrasounds, bone scans, CT scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to visualize and diagnose the presence of cancer and help to map out the course of treatment.
RapidArc® therapy is the most advanced and highly precise IMRT, intensity modulated radiation treatment, available for prostate cancer. It allows us to target cancerous tissue with radiation via tightly focused beams, sparing the surrounding healthy tissue.
RapidArc® delivers each treatment in a single revolution (or “arc”) in approximately 90 seconds -- up to eight times faster than the traditional IMRT delivery time. This rapid delivery improves treatment accuracy by minimizing the time that the patient has to hold still and by ensuring that the arc is completed before there is any unintentional motion of the prostate.
In addition, the dose from RapidArc® is not delivered in one session. Instead, it is divided into smaller doses that are administered once each weekday for 7 to 9 weeks, with each visit lasting about 10 to 15 minutes.
We enhance the effectiveness of every RapidArc treatment with the Calypso® targeting and motion control system, which acts like a sighting scope for RapidArc. Think of it as the equivalent of GPS for the body.
Non-radioactive beacons, positioned directly in the prostate, detect and report any movement of the prostate during the procedure. The beacons use a microwave array to triangulate the position of the prostate in three dimensions, allowing us to aim high-energy photos directly at any cancerous tissue.
