The TrueBeam system uses intense, precisely
targeted beams of radiation to perform stereotactic
radiosurgery, which destroys cancerous tissue much
like surgery would, but from outside the body
without the need for incisions. The TrueBeam
system can also perform image-guided radiotherapy
to kill cancer cells.

“We’re pleased to offer this advanced
technology to our entire region,” says Dr. Reggie
Sigmon, part of the CVMC Comprehensive
Cancer Center team that
also includes Dr. John
Delcharco and Dr. Shannon
Tomlinson.

 “Patients who need treatment
such as surgery for brain tumors won’t have to
drive to Winston, Charlotte, or Asheville for
this specialized care—it will be offered right here
in Hickory. Saving even an hour of time, travel,
and aggravation can ease a significant burden on
both patients and their families.”

Treatment in Motion

Using the TrueBeam RapidArc® radiotherapy
technology, complex procedures that once took
forty minutes to an hour can be completed in five
to twenty minutes.

“Rather than treating a tumor with multiple
exposures from different, stationary angles, the
system does several continuous arcs that deliver
treatment while the machine is moving,” says
medical physicist Len Hurst, a Diplomate of the
American Board of Radiology, Radiation Safety
Officer, and the CVMC Director of Radiation
Therapy and Radiation Physics. “Patients spend
less time on the table because we can give a higher
dose in a shorter period.”

Sophisticated Imaging

During treatment, an optical guidance system
allows precise tracking of highly targeted areas—
even accounting for patient movement. “The
machine automatically stops and employs imaging
technology to reposition so we’re always treating
the spot we’re supposed to treat,” Hurst says.
This is especially useful when treating lung
tumors, which move with breathing. The system’s
adaptability also allows brain surgery to be
performed without a metal ring screwed into the
skull to hold the head still. Because the system is
so precise, treatment is better able to avoid healthy
tissue, resulting in fewer side effects.
“We’re excited about this system,” Hurst says.
“Many people in our region will benefit from
having this technology nearby.”