The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, is the first cancer treatment centre in the world to use new software to create individual treatment plans.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport Jeane Freeman MSP said:
“The Beatson’s pioneering work is having a positive impact on the lives of patients. By using the latest technology, the radiotherapy physics team are able to produce a tailored treatment plan in a matter of minutes.
“The team can create an improved plan that reduces the level of radiation required to treat a tumour and better protects sensitive tissues and other organs – and in some cases this has led to a 20-30% reduction in radiation doses. This approach can lessen the likelihood of adverse reactions.
“This is the type of innovative work that the SNP Government is encouraging and backing through our £100 million Cancer Strategy and our investment in cancer services.”
More information on the Beatson’s pioneering new approach is available here.
Kenneth Gibson MSP commented:
“This improvement in the level of protection against radiation is bound to have a hugely positive impact on the lives of those who have survived cance,r so I am really pleased that people across Ayrshire will be amongst the first to benefit from this ground-breaking technology.
“The SNP Government’s £100 million Cancer Strategy so far has included an investment of £39 million in radiotherapy equipment and £11 million in staff training and recruitment.
“Specifically at the Beatson this has resulted in funding for six nurses, four clinical pharmacists, two clinical oncology consultant posts and one senior radiotherapy physicist. I can only imagine how many lives this has changed and will in the future. This new technology will improve treatment for cancer patients even further.”
ENDS
