Lynn Cancer Instiute Pushing the Boundaries of Cancer Care

Patients of Lynn Cancer Institute will soon have access to a groundbreaking MRI-guided radiation treatment system that allows for more precise targeting of tumors with higher — and potentially more effective — radiation doses.

The ability to increase radiation may also result in shorter treatment protocols that are less disruptive to patients’ quality of life.

Lynn Cancer Institute, established at Boca Raton Regional Hospital and part of Baptist Health Cancer Care, is in the process of installing the ViewRay MRIdian® MR-guided radiation therapy system at its Delray Beach location on Military Trail. “This unit will enable us, as radiation oncologists, to treat cancer in a way that we never were able to do previously,” says Youssef Zeidan, M.D., Ph.D., part of the team overseeing the acquisition. “At Lynn Cancer Institute, we are committed to bringing the latest and most effective cancer therapy to Palm Beach County.”

The new system “marries” the technology used for radiation treatments with an MRI, allowing real-time monitoring as therapy is administered. Research has demonstrated it can be especially effective on pancreatic cancer, in some cases doubling life-expectancy. It also can be used on other inoperable or difficult-to-reach tumors in the liver, lungs and elsewhere, Dr. Zeidan says.

Combining radiation with real-time visualization allows oncologists to define very tight treatment margins, avoiding exposure to nearby organs. The system is so advanced it even adapts for movement when a patient breathes. “If you are able to see the treated area before and during the radiation, you can treat it as a sculpture

— you can carve out treatment in a very personalized way to match exactly what each patients needs, while also reducing toxicity,” Dr. Zeidan explains.

Currently, the nearest institute this technology is available is at Baptist Health’s Miami Cancer Institute, which has been an international leader in its adoption and development, Dr. Zeidan says. “We are excited to bring this technology closer to home for residents of Palm Beach County,” he says, adding the new technology will allow more patients to enroll in clinical trials pushing the boundaries of cancer treatment.

“This addition is an important expansion of our radiation oncology offerings and another example of our commitment to excellence and innovation,” agrees Michael Kasper, M.D., director of radiation oncology for the Institute.

Learn more at BRRH.com/LCI or by calling 561-955-LYNN (5966).

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