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The Cancer Center is adjacent to University Hospital, so inpatients will have access to some of the diagnostic and treatment facilities in the Cancer Center and outpa- tients who require imaging and testing in the hospital will have easy access through connecting corridors. When more than one appointment is scheduled, patient ambassadors will guide patients to their next site of service. New Technology Arrives Upstate Medical University has also acquired advanced technology for the Cancer Center, including a Varian TrueBeam radiotherapy system and a Vero stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) system. Varian TrueBeam, approved by the FDA since 2009, can treat cancers located any- where in the body. Delivering a prescribed dose of radiation from a rotating arm, it can target tumors with extreme precision, spar- ing healthy tissue. Real-time imaging allows the TrueBeam to compensate for patient respiration and other minute movements, making treatment exceptionally safe. The Upstate Cancer Center will house the third Vero SBRT in the nation. This next-generation SBRT instrument combines innovative imaging and positioning for cranial and extra-cranial radiotherapy treatments. With sophisticated dynamic tracking, Vero was created to treat moving targets. This combination of image-guided radiotherapy and real-time tumor tracking allows Vero to deliver tightly focused radia- tion to difficult-to-reach locations. "The Vero system permits what I refer to as '4-D' imaging, with the fourth dimen- sion being time," says Jeffrey Bogart, MD, Professor and Chair of Radiation Oncolog y a nd Co-director of the Prostate Cancer Program at Upstate. "By that I mean we c a n v i s u a l i z e t h e tumor in the patient's a n a t om y i n t h r e e dimensions and also track its changes across time and modify our treatment accordingly. "O u r acqu isit ion of the Vero system exemplifies Upstate's commitment to help patients survive their diseases by offering the widest range of radiotherapy treatment options in the region. We can now choose from TrueBeam, Vero, TomoTherapy, RapidArc and Gamma Knife Perfexion, in addition to brachytherapy options in picking the best treatment for each individual patient. These tools help get us closer to our goal of increasing the chance of eliminating a patient's cancer while reducing side effects and promoting quality of life." Families in Focus The Family Resource Center forms another unique aspect of the Cancer Center. All the resources of Upstate's extensive academic medical library will be at its core. Via video link, patients and families will be able to consult with trained healthcare librarians to access the most reliable resources to learn about their disease and its treatment. Space in the Cancer Center also will be allotted to nutritional assessment and guidance, tobacco cessation counseling, genetic counseling, cancer rehabilitation, pain management and integrative medi- cine consultations, and other face-to-face support for a variety of needs. A meditation room w ill prov ide patients and families with a quiet space for ref lection and prayer. Upstate's Spiritual Care department will make chaplain services available for all users of the Cancer Center. "We also have a conference room for cancer-related community events, sup- port groups and educational activities," Dr. Kohman notes. Near the Family Resource Center, a boutique will feature cancer care-related items, including scarves and wigs, as well as jewelry and personal items that recognize patients and families who are affected by the many forms of the disease. The boutique also will offer personalized services, such as fittings for prostheses. Jeffrey Bogart, MD, Professor and Chair of Radiation Oncology and Co-director of the Prostate Cancer Program at Upstate Leslie Kohman, MD, Medical Director of Upstate Cancer Center and Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Surgery SAVE THE DATE REFERRING PHYSICIANS AND other community practitioners are invited to a reception and self-guided tour of Upstate Medical University's new Cancer Center. Upstate's oncology physicians will be on hand to meet providers. Music, food and beverages will be provided. When: Wednesday, July 16, 5 p.m. Where: Upstate Cancer Center, 750 E. Adams St., Syracuse Questions: rsvp@upstate.edu M D N E W S . CO M ■ MD NEWS Central New York | 7