Stanford Emanuel Radiation Oncology Doubles Treatment Capacity
Nov 21, 2017Turlock, CA — The Stanford Emanuel Radiation Oncology Center (SEROC), a joint venture between Stanford Medicine, Stanford Health Care, and Emanuel Cancer Center, just added a second linear accelerator, a multimillion-dollar technology that generates focused doses of therapeutic radiation. By doubling its capacity, SEROC can now treat more patients and it brings the latest advances in radiotherapy to Turlock. The increased capacity at SEROC ensures that patients who need radiation therapy have more treatment options than ever, at more convenient times.
“One of the immediate benefits the new accelerator has brought is the ability for all patients to be treated during regular business hours,” said Alisa Ward, manager at the radiation oncology center. “With only one machine, we were scheduling patients with appointment times anywhere from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m.”
The new linear accelerator joins an accelerator initially installed when SEROC opened in 2007. At SEROC, patients are treated by Stanford physicians and physicists, including radiation oncologists Dr. Quoc Luu and Dr. Sandra Zaky.
"Having a second linear accelerator provides double the amount of access to radiation therapy for patients in the Central Valley,” Dr. Zaky said. “The new machine will complement the advanced treatments that are already being provided at SEROC. The new machine will continue to provide world-class Stanford care in the greater Turlock community."
The technological heart of both machines is the ability to precisely target tumors using advanced imaging technology, and then deliver carefully calibrated doses of radiation to those tumors. Some of these advanced technologies include:
- Both machines can deliver radiation in coordination with the patient's breathing using a technology called respiratory gating.
- Stereotactic ablative radiosurgery eradicates cancer cells anywhere in the body with extraordinary precision in 1-5 treatments.
- Intensity-modulated radiation therapy in conjunction with RapidArcTM, which delivers conformal therapy to a target while trying to avoid normal tissues.
With the addition of the new linear accelerator, physicians will be able to match patients to the machine that best complements their physical and treatment needs, Ward explained.
The new accelerator was installed, tested, and inspected over the summer, and is now in operation. Stanford Emanuel Radiation Oncology Center is located in the Emanuel Cancer Center at 880 E. Tuolumne Road in Turlock.
About Emanuel Medical Center
Emanuel Medical Center is a 209-bed acute care hospital located in Turlock, California. The hospital provides emergency, critical care, pediatric and cardiovascular services, cancer diagnosis and treatment, women’s health services and surgical services. To search for a doctor by specialty or location, call (833) 239-8158 or visit emanuelmedicalcenter.org.
About Emanuel Cancer Center
Opened in 2007, the Emanuel Cancer Center brings advanced cancer care to Turlock. The Center includes advanced diagnostic services at the Ruby E. Bergman Women’s Diagnostic Center, medical oncology, radiation oncology at Stanford Emanuel Radiation Oncology Center and surgical and other services for cancer patients and their families.
About Stanford Health Care
Stanford Health Care seeks to heal humanity through science and compassion, one patient at a time, through its commitment to care, education, and discovery. Stanford Health Care delivers clinical innovation across its inpatient services, specialty health centers, physician offices, virtual care offerings, and health plan programs.
Stanford Health Care is part of Stanford Medicine, a leading academic health system that includes the Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford Health Care, and Stanford Children’s Health, with Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford. Stanford Medicine is renowned for breakthroughs in treating cancer, heart disease, brain disorders, and surgical and medical conditions. For more information, visit stanfordhealthcare.org.