BRAIN TUMORS

What to Expect

An effective, non-surgical treatment option

The Radixact® System is an effective treatment option for brain tumors, delivering an advanced, non-invasive form of radiation therapy called image-guided, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IG-IMRT). The unique design and capabilities of the Radixact System helps to maximize radiation delivered to the target(s) – while helping to minimize radiation dose to surrounding healthy tissues. The result is highly personalized, highly precise treatment designed to significantly reduce the risk of the memory and cognitive side effects that too often disrupt the lives of patients during and after treatment. The Radixact System is one of the most integrated, advanced systems for comprehensive cancer treatment available today, enabling precise treatment of brain tumors – including the most advanced and complex cases that require craniospinal irradiation.

NON-INVASIVE

Treatment with the Radixact System is a non-surgical, non-invasive outpatient procedure that does not require incisions or general anesthesia. Most patients will not require hospitalization or a long recovery period.

REDUCED INCIDENCE
OF SIDE EFFECTS

The Radixact System delivers the required radiation dose to the target with high precision, which can significantly reduce the most common side effects of radiation therapy for brain tumors.

Minimizing impact on everyday life

With Radixact treatment, the majority of patients can continue normal activity during and immediately following treatment — compared to the typical requirements to limit normal activity for several weeks with traditional surgery. Just as importantly, the Radixact System reduces the risk of common side effects, such as dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, and stiffness in the jaw, protecting quality of life both during and after treatment.

Your Radixact treatment process

INITIAL CONSULTATION

The Radixact System is designed to minimize dose to healthy tissues and reduce the risk of side effects, with the goal of improving patient quality of life both during and after treatment. In some circumstances, side effects may occur.

YOUR TEAM

Treatment for brain tumors with the Radixact System involves a multi-disciplinary team approach, which may include several specialists:

  • Neurosurgeon
  • Medical Oncologist
  • Medical Physcist
  • Dosimetrist
  • Radiation Oncologist
  • Neurologist
  • Endocrinologist
  • Radiation Therapist
  • Medical Support Staff

PREPARING FOR TREATMENT

Prior to Radixact treatment, you then will undergo imaging scans so that your treatment team can determine the exact size, shape and location of your tumor, as well as nearby anatomy.

TREATMENT PLAN

Following this preparatory visit, you could return for specific imaging for radiation therapy treatment planning. Using MRI and/or CT and PET scan data, your treatment team will determine the area(s) to be targeted by radiation, the radiation dose, and identify critical structures where radiation should be minimized.

The medical physicist will then calculate a precision-optimized delivery plan, leveraging the Radixact System’s sophisticated treatment planning algorithms to help deliver a safe and personalized treatment.

TREATMENT

Approximately one to two weeks after your treatment plan is finalized, you will begin treatment sessions. Treatment sessions are non-invasive outpatient procedures, and nothing will be required of you during treatment. No need for restraints. No anesthesia is required during the radiation treatment.

On each treatment day, you will be carefully positioned on the treatment table. The Radixact System acts as both a CT scanner and treatment delivery machine. This unique combination enables doctors to take a CT scan immediately before each treatment. With that image, they can verify the position of the tumor and, if necessary, adjust your position to help make sure radiation is delivered with high precision.

Once the short imaging procedure is complete, treatment delivery will begin. As the Radixact patient couch moves you at a deliberate pace through the center of the system, radiation beamlets are delivered precisely to the treatment area from 360 degrees.

You can expect your Radixact treatment to require daily sessions for one to several weeks, depending on the type and number of tumors or lesions treated. Because the Radixact System can deliver radiation continuously, without requiring interruptions to reposition, the entire treatment process typically lasts 10-20 minutes — including patient set-up time.

POST-TREATMENT

Following their treatment, most patients experience minimal side effects and can return to their daily routines with possibly only a few weeks of interruption to their normal activities.

Your medical team will discuss all possible side effects prior to treatment and may prescribe medication to control any side effects, should they occur. You also should schedule and attend any follow-up appointments.

Find a Radixact Treatment Center

Learn More About Radixact Treatment

Share Your Story

Educating others about your experience with the Radixact® or TomoTherapy® System can help others who face similar decisions about their own cancer treatment choices.

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Please note: Accuray is the manufacturer of the CyberKnife®, TomoTherapy®, and Radixact® Systems. As the manufacturer, we are unable to provide specific medical advice, view medical records, or schedule appointments.
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Important Safety Statement: Most side effects of radiotherapy, including radiotherapy delivered with Accuray systems, are mild and temporary, often involving fatigue, nausea, and skin irritation. Side effects can be severe, however, leading to pain, alterations in normal body functions (for example, urinary or salivary function), deterioration of quality of life, permanent injury and even death. Side effects can occur during or shortly after radiation treatment or in the months and years following radiation. The nature and severity of side effects depend on many factors, including the size and location of the treated tumor, the treatment technique (for example, the radiation dose), the patient’s general medical condition, to name a few. For more details about the side effects of your radiation therapy, and if treatment with an Accuray product is right for you, ask your doctor.