Cutting Edge Cancer Treatment in Middle Tennessee-Erika Lathon

It's a non invasive treatment that holds new promise for those diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Tomotheraphy high art targets tumors while minimizing radiation to other vital organs.

The cutting edge treatment is now available in Middle Tennessee.

When Robert Sommers volunteered to help with the Healing Garden for Cancer Patients at Cookeville Regional
Medical Center, he never imagined he would become one himself.

Sommers says, "You always think it happens to somebody else, but when you find out you have it, all of a sudden you start reading all kinds of material."

As Sommers researched treatment options for prostate cancer, he learned about something called Topotheraphy- a cutting edge technology available at the very hospital where he volunteers.

Sommers says, "It's less invasive than any of the other treatments and mainly that's the reason why and there are very little side effects."

Cookeville Regional Medical Center is one of only two hospitals in the state to offer Tomotheraphy, and they're seeing amazing results.

Dr. Algis Sidrois says, "It allows us to deliver more medication to a tumor and minimize the exposure to normal tissues. Both are extremely important to for the proper treatment."

In addition to being extremely accurate, tomotheraphy is also pretty quick.

Each treatment session only takes from three to nine minutes.

Sommers says, "You have to lay very still and the machine platform sends you into the machine and a few minutes later you come out and its over with."

The Tomo first takes a CT scan which shows the size and location of the tumor, then the radiation is delivered.

Dr. Sidrois says, "The machine moves in a 360 degree circle around the patient. You can actually sculpt and mold the radiation in different forms as you go along the axis of the person."

The accuracy allows an oncologist to better treat hard to reach tumors like those in the prostate, throat and neck.

Dr. Sidrois says, "I can honestly say that short term side effects during treatment have been cut down by at least 90 to 95%, compared to treatment we were doing ten years ago."

It's a healing advance, that Robert Sommers is thankful to have close to home.

Sommers says, "I am lucky to be here because I believe I would go where ever this machine is knowing what I know about it. Its a tremendous way to be treated."

Most patients undergo 30 to 40 Tomotheraphy treatments daily over the course of several months. Cutting Edge Cancer Treatment in Middle Tennessee-Erika Lathon