Beginning in December, The Sarah Cannon Cancer Center at Parkridge Medical Center will be the first and only hospital in the state of Tennessee to offer the Xoft Axxent High Dose Rate (HDR) electronic brachytherapy (eBx) system for the treatment of cancer. This technology gives area cancer patients a more convenient and comfortable alternative to traditional radiation therapy, which often requires a patient to undergo multiple rounds of treatment while isolated in a lead-lined vault.
The Axxent HDR eBx technology has many advantages compared with conventional radiation oncology. “With the Axxent system, the source of the radiation is x-rays and not radioactive material,” said Michael Howard, Director of Medical Physics for The Sarah Cannon Cancer Center at Parkridge. “The use of this relatively lower energy radiation has the potential to minimize radiation exposure for surrounding healthy tissues during treatment.” The Axxent’s use of this lower-energy x-ray technology also allows medical care providers to be in the room with a patient during treatment, an approach which can be comforting to patients.
Axxent HDR technology also features Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) capability. “This means that patients can receive radiation therapy at the same time they undergo a surgical procedure,” notes radiation oncologist Dr. Stephen Golder, Medical Director of The Sarah Cannon Cancer Center at Parkridge Medical Center. “The Axxent system can be brought into the operating room and treatment can be performed just after a tumor is removed. This means that it may be possible for some patients to complete their entire course of cancer therapy at one time.”
Because the Axxent system does not use radioactive isotopes, there is less need for special handling and hazardous materials handling related to cancer treatments performed with the system. The Axxent system can be used in a variety of applications, and Parkridge plans to treat breast, skin, and gynecologic cancers with the new device. For more information, visit ParkridgeMedicalCenter.com or call MedLine at (800) 242-5662.
About Parkridge Medical Center
Parkridge Medical Center has been providing advanced medical and surgical services with compassionate care to patients in the Chattanooga and north Georgia area since 1971. The Parkridge advantage is our focus on service, individualized care and convenience for our patients. The Sarah Cannon Cancer Center, an American College of Surgeons approved and commended oncology program, offers the latest in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Parkridge, an accredited chest pain center, provides 24-hour emergency care, intensive care, Acute Rehab, surgical services, vascular care, orthopaedics, a sleep disorders center, and comprehensive cardiac care including diagnostic, surgical and rehabilitation services. Parkridge was the first hospital in the region to perform robotics surgery and remains the most experienced team, having performed over 1400 robotic surgeries. Parkridge Medical Center, and its facilities Parkridge East and Parkridge Valley, is a part of the Parkridge Health System.
About Axxent Electronic Brachytherapy
Available for treatment of early stage breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and skin cancer, the Axxent eBx System is also FDA cleared for use in the treatment of surface cancers or conditions where radiation therapy is indicated, including IORT (intraoperative radiation therapy). As a platform technology, the Axxent System is designed to deliver non-radioactive therapy directly to cancerous tissue with minimal radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. Utilizing a proprietary miniaturized X-ray source and robotic controller, treatment can be performed in minimally shielded therapeutic settings allowing the radiation oncologist and other medical personnel to be present during treatment delivery and minimizing patient anxiety.
About Xoft,Inc.
Xoft develops Electronic Brachytherapy (eBx) systems based upon miniaturized X-ray tube technology for the practice of radiation oncology in virtually any clinical setting, eliminating the need for heavily shielded environments. The Axxent® treatment platform provides a therapeutic dose of radiation directly to the region at risk with minimal radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue and without the logistics and costs associated with using radioactive isotopes. Available for treatment of early stage breast cancer, skin cancer and endometrial cancer, the Axxent System is also cleared for use in the treatment of other cancers or conditions where radiation therapy is indicated. For information, visit xoftinc.com.