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Elekta Harmony Pro - Latest Radiation Therapy with HCG

Overview

Elekta Harmony Pro, by Elekta Medical Systems, India (branch office of Elekta AB), is an advanced radiation therapy system that precisely targets cancerous tumors and does not affect healthy tissues. By facilitating advanced and personalized radiation techniques like image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), Elekta Harmony Pro helps enhance cancer care outcomes.

What is Elekta Harmony Pro?

Elekta Harmony Pro is a carefully designed platform to deliver personalized radiation therapy treatment to cancer patients. Its ability to deliver precise and targeted radiation therapy to tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues makes it a promising radiotherapy platform.

What is the Purpose of Elekta Harmony Pro?

Elekta Harmony Pro aims to provide advanced and precise radiation treatment for cancer. It aims to deliver therapeutic radiation to cancerous tumors with enhanced accuracy while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues and organs. Elekta Harmony Pro helps oncologists target and destroy cancer cells effectively, reducing side effects and other treatment-related complications. Overall, Elekta Harmony Pro aims to improve outcomes and quality of life by facilitating effective, yet patient-friendly, radiation treatments.

How Does Elekta Harmony Pro Work?

The Harmony Pro system incorporates cutting-edge technologies such as image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT). These techniques allow for highly customizable treatment plans tailored according to the tumor characteristics and overall health of the patients.

Treatment Planning

Before treatment begins, a team of medical professionals, including radiation oncologists and medical physicists, develops a customized treatment plan for each patient. The plan is developed based on the size, shape, and location of the tumor and critical structures nearby that need to be protected.

Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)

Elekta Harmony Pro incorporates IGRT technology, which uses advanced imaging methods, such as CT scans or X-rays, to visualize the tumor and surrounding anatomy with high precision. It allows the treatment team to accurately position the patient and target the tumor before each treatment session.

Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)

IMRT is a technique that allows for the precise alteration of radiation beams according to the shape of the tumor. Elekta Harmony Pro delivers radiation from multiple angles, adjusting the intensity of the beams to deliver higher doses while minimizing exposure to nearby healthy tissues.

Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT)

Elekta Harmony Pro utilizes VMAT, a type of IMRT that delivers radiation continuously around the patient. This enables faster treatment delivery while maintaining precise control over the radiation dose distribution.

Treatment Delivery

During treatment sessions, the patient lies comfortably on the table, and the Elekta Harmony Pro system delivers the prescribed radiation dose according to the treatment plan. The system continuously monitors and adjusts the radiation beams to ensure accurate delivery.

Patient Monitoring

Throughout the treatment process, the position of the patient and radiation delivery are monitored in real-time to ensure precise targeting of the tumor. Any necessary adjustments can be made during the treatment session to account for changes in patient positioning.

What Should You Expect When You Have Radiation Therapy with Elekta Harmony Pro?

The patients should consult the radiation oncologists before undergoing radiation therapy. The oncologists will review the medical history of the patients, discuss the treatment options, and inform the patients about the advantages of radiation therapy with Elekta Harmony Pro. The patients may also expect to undergo a CT scan to assist the oncologists in planning the treatment and precisely targeting the tumor. Sometimes, the patients may undergo simulation sessions to allow the oncologists to determine accurate positions. The patients are positioned on the treatment table while the Elekta Harmony Pro system delivers the radiation during the treatment. After radiation therapy, the patients may have follow-up appointments, which help in assessing the treatment response and managing side effects, if any.

What are the Risks Associated with Elekta Harmony Pro?

Some of the risks associated with Elekta Harmony Pro are:

Skin Irritation

Radiation therapy can cause skin reactions in the treatment area, ranging from mild redness and irritation to more severe burns or blistering. Proper skincare and management techniques should be implemented to minimize skin reactions.

Hair Loss

Radiation therapy targets rapidly dividing cells, including cancer cells. However, it can also damage nearby healthy cells, such as hair follicles. The radiation damages these cells, leading to permanent or temporary loss of hair in the treated area.

Organ Damage

Radiation therapy may cause lung inflammation, cardiovascular complications (coronary artery disease and pericardial disease), gastrointestinal inflammation, ulcers, intestinal strictures, infertility, and altered hormonal production.

Advantages of Radiation Therapy with Elekta Harmony

The following are some of the important advantages of radiation therapy with Elekta Harmony Pro:

Optimized Treatment Delivery

Elekta Harmony Pro allows oncologists to deliver optimized radiation therapy. The radiation beam is adjusted based on the shape of the tumor, thereby preventing exposure to the nearby healthy tissues.

Enhanced Safety

Elekta Harmony Pro uses advanced radiation delivery techniques, such as image-guided radiation therapy and volumetric modulated arc therapy, to minimize radiation exposure to the healthy tissues surrounding the tumor. The techniques result in fewer side effects compared with conventional radiation therapy.

Precise and Accurate Dosing

Elekta Harmony Pro delivers precise and accurate radiation doses using image-guided radiation therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, and volumetric-modulated arc therapy.

Reduced Treatment Time

Elekta Harmony Pro delivers accurate and precise dosing with minimal side effects, which allows oncologists to complete the treatment session in less time compared to conventional radiation therapy. Further, reduced side effects also ensure early recovery.

Why Should You Choose HCG for Radiation Therapy with Elekta Harmony Pro?

HCG is a well-known cancer institute in India with state-of-the-art facilities to diagnose and treat various types of cancer. The center has the latest treatment options for improving the outcomes of cancer patients. The radiation oncology department has adequate expertise in delivering radiation therapy with advanced techniques, such as Elekta Harmony Pro.

Conclusion

With Elekta Harmony Pro, oncologists can optimize treatment delivery to maximize effectiveness and minimize side effects for patients undergoing radiation therapy for various types of cancer, including prostate, breast, lung, and brain tumors. Elekta Harmony Pro helps improve treatment outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Although TrueBeam and Elekta Harmony Pro are advanced radiation therapy systems, they have certain differences. TrueBeam offers various radiation therapy techniques, such as IGRT, IMRT, stereotactic radiosurgery, and stereotactic body radiation therapy, while Elekta Harmony Pro offers IGRT, IMRT, and VMAT.

Determining the most advanced radiation therapy depends on various factors, including the individualized needs of the patient, the type and stage of cancer being treated, and the capabilities of the treatment facility. Some of the types of radiotherapy include intensity-modulated radiation therapy, image-guided radiation therapy, volumetric-modulated arc therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic body radiation therapy, proton therapy, and MRI-guided radiation therapy.

The cost of Elekta Harmony Pro is higher than that of the machine used for conventional radiation therapy because of the advanced features incorporated in Elekta Harmony Pro. The treatment cost with Elekta Harmony Pro may vary from one patient to another depending on the type of cancer treated, the number of fractions, and other individual case parameters.