Expanding On Cancer Care In The Northwest

A new installment at the Thunder Bay Health Sciences Centre will make things easier for cancer patients receiving treatment.
Regional Cancer Care Northwest has installed a linear accelerator (LINAC), which is considered one of the most advanced forms of radiation technology.
Vice President Dr. Mark Henderson says the device will be able to treat the cancerous tumor, without damaging surrounding tissues.
Prior to this development, radiation machines had a radioactive cobalt 60 and that was shielded by lead.
When the patient was lined up correctly, the lead shield was removed.
Henderson says it was a more harmful way of treating patients, but it did work in a number of cases.
He notes that the LINAC will also cut down on time because the new machines will be able to treat people sooner because the radiation will be directly targeting the cancer.
The hospital is working on getting another LINAC by fall of this year.
Between 900-1000 new cancer patients are treated at the regional cancer center each year.