TrueBeam Linac: North India’s 1st & Most Advanced Technology to Treat Cancer

By Dr. Sumant Gupta in Truebeam Linac Cancer

Nov 4, 2022

North India’s 1st & Most Advanced Technology to Treat Cancer is Here: TrueBeam Linac

Cancer cases are rising alarmingly in India. This medical condition is commonly found at a relatively late stage, which makes treatment more difficult, costly, and likely to have negative after-effects. Considering the current state of cancer in India, it is important that we endeavour to build a comprehensive and economic infrastructure for cancer care that is located near the community to provide simple access for everyone. Healthcare professionals and researchers worldwide are diligently working to identify newer and more effective treatment options to address this challenge.

One technological advancement that is revolutionizing cancer treatment and significantly improving the experience for patients is the “TrueBeam Linac.” The TrueBeam radiation system was designed with a focus on maximizing patient comfort and treatment efficiency. Patients can recover with TrueBeam with the least number of radiation treatments. The radiation oncology departments at a few top hospitals in India now use a cutting-edge linear accelerator, the TrueBeam Linac System.

The TrueBeam medical linear accelerator radiation system was developed by Varian Medical Systems. It offers a precise image-guided stereotactic radiosurgery and radiation system treating tumours & lesions in various body areas, including lungs, head, neck and breasts. 

TrueBeam radiotherapy devices consist of two major parts:

A beam-producing system that generates photon, electron, and diagnostic X-ray radiation, along with a Control Panel.

To ensure radiation protection, the beam-producing equipment is placed in a vault in healthcare facilities, while the control panel that runs the device software is put outside the treatment area.

 How Does TrueBeam Function?

Treatment with TrueBeam typically consists of three fundamental phases:

Treatment Planning: During the planning phase, doctors gather 3D images of the tumor and surrounding areas. These images aid in verifying the tumor’s anatomy and developing a personalized radiation therapy plan.

Treatment Preparation: A treatment prep session will be held before each radiation therapy session, which will include patient positioning using specially moulded devices, identifying the treatment region with permanent ink, and setting up other parameters to guarantee exact radiation delivery.

Radiation Treatment: The radiation doses are supplied at regulated levels for a certain amount of time as per the treatment plan. The TrueBeam STx linear accelerator rotates around the patient to deliver radiation beams during the session. This innovative technology helps radiologists minimize damage to healthy tissues surrounding the patient.

What are the Advantages of TrueBeam treatments?

Quicker Treatment – While a challenging radiosurgery typically lasts 30-60 minutes, TrueBeam Linac completes a full session in just 5-20 minutes, depending on the individual diagnosis. This minimizes the risk of tumor movement during therapy, safeguarding surrounding healthy tissue and vital organs.

Precision – TrueBeam technology ensures accuracy down to millimeter increments. It synchronizes imaging, patient positioning, motion management, and dosage administration, conducting accuracy checks every ten milliseconds during treatment.

Imaging – Imaging – TrueBeam technology instantly generates 3-D images to precisely target tumors, using 25% less X-ray dosage compared to previous systems.

Elements that May Have an Impact on the Procedure’s Success

There aren’t many negative effects associated with this therapy. However, they may develop during the second or third week of treatment. The majority of adverse effects are connected to the treatment location. The patients may have mild to moderate sunburn-like skin discomfort. The doctor can treat these short-lived adverse effects by providing medication and proper post-treatment care.

The most common negative effect reported by patients is fatigue. Even when the condition is severe, people may have symptoms for a few days. In addition, some patients believe that the radiation will cause the development of another cancer. The likelihood of this happening is exceedingly low, and the numerous benefits of this system clearly outweigh any potential after-effects.

Why Should this Procedure be Performed in India?

The network of cancer hospitals in India is something to be proud of. These hospitals are highly advanced and have the cutting-edge infrastructure to serve patients from all around the world. Some of the top and most well-known cancer specialists or oncologists in the world are linked with these Indian healthcare facilities. These cancer experts are highly knowledgeable about cancer and keep abreast of the latest advances in the field.

These experts have extensive training and several years of experience, not only on national but also on worldwide platforms. As a result, it is quite easy for these professionals to deal with the most sophisticated and tough cancer types with maximum simplicity and meticulousness.

With cutting-edge technologies like TrueBeam LINAC, India is poised to lead in advanced cancer treatment, offering superior care globally.