U.K. cancer center treats first prostate cancer patient with Varian RapidArc

The Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology in the Wirral, England, has treated the first cancer patient in the United Kingdom using RapidArc radiotherapy technology from Varian Medical Systems.

RapidArc delivers a volumetric intensity-modulated radiation therapy treatment in a single or multiple arcs of the treatment machine around the patient and makes it possible to deliver advanced image-guided IMRT two to eight times faster than is possible with conventional IMRT. McCormack, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in June, has had his treatment slot reduced by 25 percent due to the introduction of RapidArc, according to Varian.

Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology employs 650 staff and provides specialist radiotherapy, chemotherapy and rehabilitation services. One of the U.K.’s leading cancer centers, it serves over two million people in the Wirral, north Cheshire and Liverpool area, the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company said.

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