New Mexico Cancer Center Utilizes SGRT for Advanced Breast Cancer Treatment

For several years, New Mexico Cancer Center has championed Surface Guided Radiation Therapy (SGRT), expanding its use after witnessing significant improvements in both efficiency and patient comfort.

Lead Therapist Andrew Leek shares insights from his experience at the center, emphasizing the importance of surface guidance in overcoming specific treatment challenges. “We wanted to monitor the patient’s anatomy as a whole. When we only focused on the ROI surfaces, we weren’t considering the entire anatomy. With the postural video tool, factors like arm position and even chin position, are accurately positioned. This has revolutionised our set ups as historically these couldn’t be tracked effectively using tattoos,” he explains.

AlignRT has been consistently utilized at the center to assist with both setup and real-time motion management. This contactless and non-invasive technology accurately tracks a patient’s position before and during radiation therapy, achieving sub-millimetric accuracy. As a result, it ensures that radiation is delivered precisely as intended.

Boosting Confidence in Advanced Treatments

The integration of SGRT and AlignRT has empowered the New Mexico Cancer Center to explore advanced treatment options with greater confidence. ”Using AlignRT for patient positioning has significantly reduced the need for reimaging, which has been a great benefit for us,” said Andrew. “In breast cancer treatments, precision is key to not only targeting the tumor but also sparing healthy tissue. With SGRT, we spend less time on reimaging and now have more time to focus on each patient. This allows us to confidently take on more complex treatments. In the past, we had to rely on more conservative approaches, but now we can handle advanced cases, which ultimately benefits the patient—and that’s what really matters.” This shift has fostered a more personalized approach to patient care.

Enhancing Patient Experience

As well as improved accuracy, introducing SGRT has significantly enhanced the overall patient experience at the clinic.

The transition to tattoo and mark-free treatments in summer 2023 represented a new era in radiation therapy that every patient could benefit from. “Many breast cancer patients come in expecting to get permanent tattoos as part of their radiation therapy. When I walk in and tell them, “No tattoos for you today,” the reaction is usually very positive and you can see the relief on their face,” says Andrew.

When highlighting the significance of patient comfort and treatment efficiency, Andrew emphasizes, “For breast cancer patients, efficient and timely treatments are crucial. Being able to receive treatment and get on and off the table within 10 minutes makes a huge difference. The longer a patient has to stay on the table, the more uncomfortable it becomes. For us, that’s where Vision RT really stands out—the efficiency it provides is the biggest benefit.”

New Mexico Cancer Center’s proactive approach in integrating AlignRT for advanced setup and motion management paves the way for even more sophisticated treatments. By prioritizing patient comfort and treatment efficiency, the center not only enhances the accuracy of radiation delivery but also transforms the overall patient experience.