Less Pain, More Gain
by Keith M. Darcey"The Trilogy System is a remarkable technological breakthrough in terms of treatment accuracy and an individualized approach we can take for each person and the tumor we are focused on," says Dr. Paul Monsour, a radiation oncologist at East Jefferson General Hospital. "We expect it to translate into higher cure rates and fewer side effects by minimizing the effects on healthy tissue."
The concentrated radiation used by Trilogy is designed to kill the tumor's cancerous cells and keep them from spreading to other parts of the body. One of the system's major advantages over other options is its ability to take an image of the tumor daily, which allows the most accurate levels of focused radiation to be delivered precisely where needed, as well as provide Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy. The system enables radiologists to use imaging to create a three-dimensional model of the tumor. Targeting and matching the radiation beam to an individual tumor decreases the amount of radiation that hits and could harm healthy tissue around the tumor. The Trilogy system also allows physicians to treat brain and spinal tumors using stereotactic radiation, which results in very precise treatment given over a very short period of time.
"Trilogy really does change how we can treat cancer in our patients," says Monsour. "We believe the patients will have a better overall experience. We want them to return to their normal lives more quickly and with fewer complications."
