Cancer patients needing radiation therapy now have access to state-of-the-art technology at the Windsor Regional Cancer Centre.
The hospital has installed a fourth Linear Accelerator to conduct the treatments. The new machine offers different treatment options not previously available at Windsor Regional Hospital.
"We can do different types of therapies that we're not able to do on the existing ones that require patients to be sent out," said Jonathan Foster, Vice President of Emergency, Trauma, Mental Health, Cancer Services & Renal at WRH. "Our oncologists are so excited to have this because they can do types of treatments that we might have previously sent people to Guelph, Toronto, and other cities for."
The fourth machine will also allow the hospital to upgrade its three older machines over the next three years.
"We want people to feel comforted in knowing that if they are treated in one of our existing ones, they're getting still very safe, effective, high-quality cancer treatments," said Foster. "It's really a conversation between the oncologist, and the treatment design team to determine who would most benefit from this type of machine."
All equipment will be moved to the new acute care hospital once it is complete.