BEMIDJI 鈥� Hovering in the sky, one by one pieces of Sanford Health鈥檚 new linear accelerator were carefully lowered into the Joe Lueken Cancer Center on a recent Saturday morning in Bemidji.
While the spectacle was something in and of itself, with trucks and cranes coordinating efforts to load in the machine, the real wonder is how the new linear accelerator will improve cancer radiation treatments for patients.
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鈥淭he machine that we鈥檙e installing in Bemidji is a state-of-the-art unit that can deliver very precise, continually monitored (radiation) treatments,鈥� explained Dr. Miran Blanchard, a radiation oncologist at Sanford. 鈥淚t can really dramatically improve our capabilities to deliver radiation safely and effectively in a rural setting.鈥�
Sanford Bemidji isn鈥檛 a stranger to linear accelerators, but its new machine has several upgrades that will make radiation treatments more efficient and comfortable.
Designed to specifically target radiation at a tumor, typical linear accelerator treatments require careful monitoring. They also require patients to remain still for extended periods of time to ensure the radiation hits where it is supposed to.
With Sanford鈥檚 improved linear accelerator, however, much of the monitoring is included in the machine, which makes it easier to administer and oftentimes makes treatment faster.
鈥淔or lung and liver tumors, for example, it can continuously monitor and turn the beam off and on to adapt to the patient's breathing cycle,鈥� Blanchard shared. 鈥淲e can continually monitor a patient鈥檚 position during treatments and make sure that (the radiation) is perfectly delivered.鈥�
The more efficient treatment can also make it more comfortable for the patients receiving it.
鈥淲ith a shorter time frame the patient can be much more comfortable because some of the treatments we use to keep them still during radiation can be uncomfortable,鈥� Blanchard said. 鈥淲e can monitor so they don鈥檛 move, and if they do move we can adjust, so that makes it much more efficient and comfortable for the patient.鈥�
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By installing this new machine in Bemidji, Blanchard said that Sanford is bringing top-quality care that would typically be found in larger cities to a rural setting.
鈥�(Patients) can get care that is normally given at a major academic center at home with family nearby, so it really helps make it much more convenient,鈥� Blanchard said. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 have to travel for state-of-the-art radiation treatment.鈥�
Blanchard is hopeful that Sanford鈥檚 new linear accelerator will improve treatment experiences for patients in Bemidji, and is looking forward to continuing to improve the care he and other oncologists provide.
鈥淲e really want to make sure the patients have the best quality care close to home,鈥� Blanchard said.
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