Additional Resources to Help Lower the Cost of Cancer Care in India

A recent article posted on Imaging Technology News, “Physicians in India Show Intense Interest in Arc-Based Radiation Therapy” (click here for full article) tells how Dr. Vivek Mehta, a radiation oncologist at Seattle’s Swedish Cancer Institute, gave three lectures on Elekta’s volumetric modulated therapy (VMAT) in India.  From his experience, the article claims that the prospect of increasing the speed of receiving radiation therapy treatment using dynamic, arc-based radiation therapy is capturing the imagination and interest of Indian clinicians.

The article explains how VMAT seems to be creating a spark of interest in India relating to resources. “Ninety-five percent of patients in India pay for cancer treatment, so improving efficiency – treating more patients during the day—enhances the clinic’s financial stability. A technique such as VMAT SBRT is an enabler for them to treat these patients in a time-efficient manner”.

There is a huge gap in the cost structure between older colbalt machines and newer, advanced machines that can incorporate VMAT technology. Refurbished equipment offers a bridge across this chasm. Refurbished linear accelerators and other radiation therapy equipment would be another resource that clinicians in India could use to help keep costs managed, and to provide quality cancer treatment to the people of India.

To learn about the refurbished radiation therapy equipment ROS offers, click here!

Cancer Survivor Numbers Hit Nearly 12 Million

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of Americans with a history of cancer was 11.7 million in 2007, or 4% of the population. This number is up from about 3 million in 1971 and 9.8 million in 2001, according to a report published in the March 11^th issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Although this seems frightening at first, the number of cancer survivors is also rising as earlier diagnosis through screening, more effect treatment, improved follow-up care, and an aging population increases. Because cancer survivors are living longer after diagnosis and the US population is aging, the number of people living with a history of cancer is expected to continue to increase.

Report authors suggest that the increasing number of cancer survivors underscores the need for medical professional to look at the long-term and late effects on cancer survivor’s physical and psychosocial well-being.

To read the full article click here

Radiation Has Always Been Part of My Story

As many Japanese struggle to survive in the wake of the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami triggered by it, even more are concerned as fears of radiation leaks thrive as reactors at several Japanese nuclear power plants remain unstable. In this article, Hiroshima survivor and radiation oncologist Ritsuko Komaki, explains how the fear of radiation in Japan has influenced some Japanese against radiation therapy when diagnosed with cancer and disinterested medical students from studying radiation oncology.

This past January, Komaki and her husband met with oncologists in Kyoto and Sapporo to begin a 5-year grant received from the Japanese Ministry of Technology and Education aimed to improve radiation education and train medical physicists. She worries that the nuclear explosions in Fukushima will have negative effects on the advances that have slowly been made and hopes that the Japanese government will take the necessary steps to disclose the radioactive measurement and help save people’s lives.

To read the full article click here

Earthquake’s effects felt by medical device industry

With many thousands feared dead, hundreds of thousands in  temporary shelters, millions without water, and many desperately trying to locate loved ones, the fortunes of  global medical device industry are the last thing on most Japanese minds and not even making the list on the scale of human importance. However, with the world’s third largest economy and arguably one of the most important markets for medical devices, the devastation brought by Japan’s 9.0 earthquake and tsunami triggered from it, could affect the industry, according to reports.

To read more click here : Quakes effects felt by medical device industry

See More Here : Radiation Treatment Companies To Consider In Light Of The Earthquake

Accuray to acquire TomoTherapy for $277 million

Radiation therapy firm Accuray announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire Madison, WI-based TomoTherapy in a deal valued at approximately $277 million.

To read more click here

X-Rays and Unshielded Infants

Although unnecessary radiation has been raising many concerns about patients’ safety lately, the use of unnecessary radiation on children can be even more devastating than for adults. Because children’s cells divide quickly, they are more vulnerable to radiation’s effects and thus need special protections. However, full body X-rays, known as “babygrams” are still being used in some hospitals even though they have been largely discredited due to the potential harm of radiation on the young. Dr. Salvatore J. A. Sclafani expressed his anguish and shame in an email to his colleagues when he discovered that premature babies had been over-radiated in the department he ran at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. 

Due to matters such as “babygrams”, reoccurring X-rays, radiation levels on CT Scanners being set too high, and poor patient positioning, the question of competence, training, and oversight of technologist who operate complex radiological equipment comes into play. As of right now, individual states decide what standards, if any, radiological workers must meet. However, the American Society of Radiologic Technologists has lobbied Congress to pass the CARE bill which would establish minimum educational and certification requirements for technologists, medical physicists and people in 10 other occupations in medical imaging and radiation therapy. Supporters of the legislation say that its continuing-education requirement will keep radiologists abreast of technological changes.

To read the full article click here

California Legislature Introduces The Radiologist Assistant Practice Act

Due to an increasing workload for radiologists, the California legislature has introduced Assembly Bill 352 which would allow a radiologist assistant to perform medical imaging services under direct supervision of a supervising radiologist. The Radiologist Assistant Practice Act would require licensure and regulation by the Radiologist Assistant Committee of the Medical Board of California, making California the 29^th state to add advanced practice medical imaging professionals to its list of licensed or recognized professions.

To read full article click here

Smoking During Radiation Treatment Reduces Chance of Overall Survival

Although long proven associations between tobacco smoking and head and neck cancers have been established, there has been little data until now showing whether or not continued smoking during treatments affects prognosis. According to a study in the February issue of International Journal of Radiation Oncology•Biology•Physics, smokers who continue to smoke while undergoing radiation treatments for head and neck cancer fare significantly worse than those who quit smoking before treatment.

To read the full article click here

First FDA Cleared Radiology Application for Mobile Devices

On February 7^th, a new mobile radiology app was approved by the FDA that allows physicians to view medical images on an iPhone or iPod. Although many apps have been submitted to and tested by the FDA, the Mobile MIM is the first to be cleared for viewing images and producing medical diagnoses based on computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and nuclear medicine technology, such as a positron emission tomography (PET).  Although this new technology will allow physicians to immediately view images, without having to wait for film or be at a workstation, it is not intended to replace full workstations.

To read full article click here

World Cancer Day

On February 4^th, World Cancer Day, the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and its partners and allies run campaigns globally to bring attention to a leading cause of death around the world, cancer. Preventing cancer and raising quality of life for cancer patients are reoccurring themes in these campaigns.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 84 million people will die of cancer between 2005-2015 without intervention. World Cancer Day provides a coordinated effort to ease the global burden of cancer by providing a big platform through which awareness, prevention, and related messages can be spread.

2011 appears to be an important year in the battle against cancer as the UN Summit on Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) is taking place in September.

At Radiology Oncology Systems we are in the business of helping to fight cancer, and every week, we see many victories in this battle.  Whether it’s the repair of a down machine that results in cancer patients being treated, the successful installation of a refurbished machine that will allow patients to be treated for years to come, or the sale of a product or device to improve the quality or safety of patient care, ROS is proud to be a small part in the fight against cancer. 

To get more information on World Cancer Day or to find ways that you can help feel free to check out the links below.

http://www.worldcancerday.org/

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/annual/world_cancer_day/en/index.html