A radiosurgery treatment system, called the Novalis Tx, which is said to have the ability to destroy cancerous cells virtually anywhere in the body in a 20-minute session, has gone into service in The Christie at Salford Royal, a new radiotherapy centre in the North West.
Rachel Good, radiotherapy manager for the new centre, said: “The system was the perfect choice for the centre because it will help The Christie treat more patients by switching between specialised radiosurgery for tumours in the brain to standard radiotherapy for other cancers of the body. In our first year we are looking to treat 720 patients with the Novalis Tx, 120 of which will be priority brain tumour patients where precise, non-invasive treatment is particularly effective.” The launch of the treatment coincides with new guidelines released by the NHS National Cancer Action Team, which state that radiosurgery should be made available to all suitable cancer patients in England. By the end of 2011 three sites will be treating with the system, improving access to advanced cancer care to patients across the UK.
