Beaming in on The Cure

A new type of radiation therapy, developed by a Bay Area company, shows astonishing promise in fighting cancer

A A A Comments By Matt Palmquist Wednesday, Apr 28 2004

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Rugtiv was lucky to know many of the surgeons and radiation oncologists in and around Stanford, and was also fortunate that the Palo Alto Medical Clinic, spurred by Dr. Gordon Ray, had become the first community-based hospital in the Bay Area to offer IMRT treatment. Now several years removed from the radiation therapy, Rugtiv reports no side effects and would like others to consider his background in medicine when he tells them: "I was a busy surgeon, I was trained in pathology, and I think everyone should look into IMRT, explore whether it's right for them.

"It's the way of the future."

As this IMRT treatment plan shows, doctors can aim X-ray beams from several different directions and angles to target previously untreatable tumors, in this case a throat cancer.

Paolo Vescia

Dr. Patrick Swift is a pioneer in IMRT treatments, which require head-and-neck patients to wear a protective mask like the one shown here.

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Correction

The story "Beaming in on the Cure" (April 28) incorrectly reported that Alta Bates Comprehensive Cancer Center is affiliated with the University of California; it is not, and it does not yet offer on-board imaging technology for radiation treatment. Also, we said Palo Alto Medical Clinic was the first community-based hospital in the country to offer intensity modulated radiation therapy; actually, it’s the first to offer said therapy in the Bay Area.

SF Weekly regrets the errors.