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Talking to Your Doctor

Ask your doctor if Radixact® is right for you

Thanks to rapid advances in treatment technologies, you have more options than ever for effectively treating your cancer. The first step in understanding your options is to talk to your doctor. To help you get that conversation started, we’ve put together a few questions to ask.

Questions to ask your doctor

  • What are my treatment options?
  • Which treatment option would best preserve my quality of life?
  • What is my recommended treatment option — and why?
  • Am I a candidate for Radixact treatment?
  • What is the treatment process for the treatment option you recommend and how long will it take?
  • What results should I expect?
  • What are the side effects and risks of the procedure; and which side effects are short-term, and which ones may be long-term?
  • How are these side effects managed and can they be prevented?

Additional information & resources

The Radixact System with TomoTherapy technology is one of the most integrated, advanced systems for comprehensive cancer treatment available today and is typically used to treat locally advanced rectal cancer. Studies conducted using the TomoTherapy technology have shown good results. Listed below are key studies to support your discussion of the Radixact System with your doctor.

  • Patients enrolled in two studies received simultaneous daily radiation and a targeted radiation boost over a 25-session time period. The TomoTherapy platform’s unique architecture enabled the delivery of a high dose of radiation, directly to the tumor, through the integrated boost of radiation, while minimizing radiation dose delivered to organs in close proximity to the targeted tumor. Patients in the studies experienced improved treatment results and reduced side effects 1, 2 .
  • Treatment with TomoHelical™ and TomoDirect™ is safe, with low rates of severe toxicity. Radiation delivered with helical TomoTherapy following daily imaging with the platform’s integrated CT imaging capabilities allowed for the reduction of treatment margins around the tumor, so less normal tissue was irradiated. The authors highlighted a “clear reduction in the rates of acute and late non-hematological toxicities” when compared to a randomized trial evaluating the use of 2D- or conformal 3D-RT techniques, published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) 3.
  • TomoHelical used simultaneously to deliver daily radiation treatments and a targeted radiation dose boost to the primary tumor was able to significantly reduce the volume of the tumor, while minimizing dose to surrounding organs-at-risk. This enabled surgeons to perform sphincter-preserving surgery while removing the remaining tumor in 80.1 percent of patients in the study, thereby increasing the chance of maintaining normal bowel function and preserving quality of life 2.

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References:

[1] De Bari, B., Franzetti-Pellanda, A., Saidi, A. et al. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy delivered with helical tomotherapy under daily image guidance for rectal cancer patients: efficacy and safety in a large, multi-institutional series. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 145, 1075–1084 (2019).

[2] Zhao, J., Liu, X., Wang, W. et al. Concomitant dose escalation with image-guided Tomotherapy in locally advanced mid–low rectal cancer: a single-center study. ted. Cancer Management and Research 2019:11 1579–1586.

[3] Sauer R, et al: Preoperative versus Postoperative Chemoradiotherapy for Rectal Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2004 Oct 21;351(17):1731-40.

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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.