Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/79506
SPECIAL FEATURE A physicist and dosimetrist review a high dose rate brachytherapy plan for a patient with cervical cancer. HDR brachytherapy is a unique program at MetroHealth that requires a specialized team of physicians, physicists, dosimetrists, nurses and therapists who have extra credentials from the State of Ohio to plan and perform this type of therapy. sent through intra-cavitary applicators — such as cylinders, catheters, tandem and ovoids and balloons — that are placed in the surgical cavity or body cavity. The dose delivered in brachytherapy is highly conformal and spares healthy tissue while delivering a high dose to the tumor. Treatment typically takes only about 10 minutes, but setting up the equipment for each patient can take as long as 30 to 45 minutes, which ties up the radiation oncology suite during this time. As a result, MetroHealth recently constructed a separate brachytherapy suite. The new brachytherapy suite has enhanced efficiencies and increased the number of radiation oncology patients who can be treated at any given time. "The addition of a separate brachy- therapy suite has increased patient access for all of our radiation oncology services and ensures patients receive care in a timely manner," says Dr. Laye. This increase in capacity will likely result in the need to recruit more radiation thera- pists, particularly as optimal schedules and patient loads are determined for each new piece of equipment. Recognizing that facing the diagnosis of cancer and undergoing weeks of treatment can be unsettling, if not terrifying, for patients and their fami- lies, MetroHealth is in the process of redesigning the center's waiting room and chemotherapy treatment suites to feel less like a hospital and more like a home. Interior design and decorations, which incorporate soft colors on walls and floors with comfortable seating, contribute to a more soothing and less- stressful environment. "MetroHealth's investment in new equipment and facilities complements the hospital's comprehensive cancer care services and existing state-of-the-art resources," says Dr. Laye. These resources include clinical trials. Through its membership in the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), under the auspices of the National Cancer Institute, MetroHealth is currently conducting more than 25 clinical research 16 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton MD NEWS ■ MDNEWS.COM ■ SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2012 programs addressing the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer and giving patients access to the newest cancer therapies and medications. Many cancer clinical trials are also initiated by physi- cians at MetroHealth who are committed to improving the care of their patients. In addition, as affiliates of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, MetroHealth physicians are dedicated to the teaching of medical students and staff, including the next gen- eration of physicians who will be shaping the future of cancer care and research. "Cancer is still a major threat to the health of all Americans, but with MetroHealth's significant investment in treatment technology, the ability for our patients to be successfully treated and recover from various types of cancer is significantly improved," says Dr. O'Brien. For mor e inf ormat ion a b out MetroHealth's Cancer Care Center, visit www.metrohealth.org/cancer. To refer a patient, call 216-77-TREAT (778-7328). ■