RapidArc Radiation Therapy
California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) radiation oncologists use RapidArc® radiation therapy, a state-of-the-art technology that combines intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with the advantages of arc therapy, to deliver highly focused treatments.
At CPMC, RapidArc can be used in conjunction with our Trilogy® linear accelerator cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and ExacTrac® image guidance systems to deliver radiation precisely and accurately to the target. This means that lower amounts of harmful radiation are delivered to the surrounding normal, functioning organs. Consequently, one may have fewer side effects and could receive his/her course of radiation in fewer overall treatment appointments. Additional benefits include a reduced amount of time needed for radiation treatment and better scheduling options.
How RapidArc Radiation Therapy Works
RapidArc treatments are planned using a sophisticated computer program that evaluates diagnostic images and calculates the best way to deliver the radiation, while minimizing the impact of that radiation on one's healthy tissues.
Immediately before treatment, the exact location of a patient’s tumor is visually observed through a two-minute imaging procedure (either CBCT or ExacTrac). Next, our doctors review the images and adjust the patient’s position to ensure a highly accurate treatment. No movement is needed by the patient as positioning adjustments are made automatically by the robotic treatment couch.
At CPMC, RapidArc is used in conjunction with our Trilogy linear accelerator that rotates continuously around the patient while the radiation is shaped and reshaped as it is delivered continuously from virtually every angle around the patient.
Patient Benefits with RapidArc Radiation Therapy
- Greater comfort and ease for the patient, as "beam on" time is reduced to 5 minutes for complicated radiation treatments that used to require 25-30 minutes.
- Highly focused radiation beams of the RapidArc treatments are shaped and modulated to precisely target the tumor while sparing surrounding healthy tissue.
- These highly focused treatments are aided by the full volumetric soft tissue scans provided by the Trilogy CBCT and the sub millimeter accuracy of the ExacTrac imaging suite that provides seamless automatic image fusion for the doctors to review before treatment.
- This integrated approach can lead to fewer side effects and can enable us to deliver the course of radiation in fewer overall treatment appointments, reducing the amount of time our patients will spend in treatment overall.
About California Pacific Medical Center
Bryan Hemming Cancer Care Center
We offer comprehensive cancer services at CPMC's Bryan Hemming Cancer Care Center. Our cancer physicians and surgeons serve individuals in the San Francisco Bay Area, Marin County, Northern California and beyond. We provide personalized patient care using some of the most successful cancer treatment options available.
Bryan Hemming Cancer Care Center
California Pacific Medical Center, Pacific Campus
2351 Clay St., #134
San Francisco, CA 94115
Main: Tel. 415-600-3081 or 866-975-2673 (COPE)
Radiation Therapy: Tel. 415-600-3600
