Where do we differ?

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Our New Radiotherapy department has the most modern linear accelerators in the world. We have the 4th version of the TRUEBEAM linear accelerator, the 4th version of EDGE, the version 18 of ECLIPSE, which is the most modern treatment design system currently available by VARIAN.

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More specifically:

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1. Varian TrueBeam Linear Accelerator:

The state-of-the-art linear accelerator provides radiotherapies that cover a wide range of cancer cases, leveraging its sophisticated imaging capabilities, while ensuring sub-millimeter accuracy in treatments, using RapidArc techniques.

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2. Stereotactic Radiotherapy and Edge™ Radiosurgery System:

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At the same time, we have EDGE, which has the thinnest thickness of multi-leaf guides (2.5 mm) and which allows optimal treatment planning over small volumes.

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For patients who need stereotactic treatments, the Edge system offers point accuracy. It is designed to treat small tumors with high doses of radiation in fewer sessions, minimizing the impact on patients' daily lives. 

It is the only system approved by the Greek State to provide brain stereotaxis treatments(SRS)with a thickness of multi-leaf guides (2.5 mm);

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The same system ensures high-quality SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy) type treatment for cancer patients who have very small tumors, ensuring their rapid and effective treatment.

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At EDGE we have the robotic bed 6 dof (degrees of freedom), which allows the therapy bed to be moved in any direction, ensuring full identification of the treatment placement with the design position.

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3. First system of guided radiotherapy in Greece by C-Rad:

The Clinic “AGIOS LOUKAS” is The first in Greeceoffering C-Rad's integrated Surface Guided Radiotherapy (SGRT) system. This innovative technology improves treatment accuracy and patient safety, ensuring optimal results.

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Essentially, it allows to monitor the patient's surface for its precise positioning, but also to interrupt the beam and irradiation in case of movement of the patient due to some emergency.

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In this way, we ensure that the irradiation of the specific area we have designed is accurate, to the point where we can reach even 0.5 mm.

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At the same time, it allows us to monitor the respiratory cycle, especially basic in DIBH (deep inspiration breath hold) treatments, removing the breast from the heart, minimizing the irradiation of the heart and thus ensuring optimal treatment of the patient, without side effects on healthy tissues.

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In cases of treatment of cancers in the lung and upper abdomen (pancreatic, kidney and liver cancers), it allows us to be able to perform 4DCT. This practically means that, during irradiation, the doctor decides in which phase of the respiratory cycle it is safer to irradiate the patient.

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4. Sun Nuclear's SunCheck™ Dosimetry and Quality Control Platform:

Ensuring the highest level of quality and safety of treatment, the SunCheck platform from Sun Nuclear provides comprehensive verification and monitoring of dosimetry (before we even irradiate the patient, but computed, as well as in samples, which have the same recommendation as the patient. Also, we can confirm it on the imaging system itself and of course at the end of each treatment).

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This system ensures that each treatment is delivered exactly as designed.

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5. Varian Bravos™ Brachytherapy System:

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At the same time, we provide brachytherapy in gynecological tumors for the treatment of endometrial and cervical cancers, with the Bravos machine of the company Varian. The treatment is carried out very accurately, as it is applied intravaginally. In essence, we irradiate the tumor with large doses, while minimizing the irradiation of adjacent healthy tissues and organs.

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Which patients is referred to in the Radiotherapy Department?

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Radiation therapy is a therapeutic treatment that uses ionizing radiation to treat cancer, but also benign diseases.

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Radiation therapy is given in collaboration with the other specialties involved. It can be given in connection with surgery, preoperatively, postoperatively, and radical radiotherapy can also be given at the same time as chemotherapy. It concerns all cancer patients, adults and children, always with specific indications.

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At the moment, radiation therapy is a pillar of oncology. It is worth mentioning that 60% of cancer patients will undergo radiation therapy, some time after their diagnosis. Most importantly, 40% of patients who reach complete cure from cancer have undergone radiotherapy.

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PROCESS

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1. After the initial discussion with the patient and with the rest of the treating physicians, we proceed to the next stage, that of emulation. There, the patient is placed in the special CT scanner in a treatment position and we receive images of the area of interest.

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2. After the simulation, the attending physician plans the area of the tumor to be irradiated, while at the same time, in the shot performed by the radiophysicists, he also plans the healthy tissues so that they are protected.

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3. On the day of treatment, the patient is placed on the linear accelerator, just as it was placed on the simulator. A CT scan is performed, this time by the linear accelerator, while at the same time the body surface recognition system is used. As soon as we assure that the patient is exactly in the same position in which he was originally placed, then the treatment begins.

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4. During treatment, we monitor the patient daily and, depending on the course of treatment (if we see, for example, that there is a remission in the tumor or a change), we may adjust the treatment plan.

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GROUP

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Excellent Care, Advanced Technology

At the Clinic “AGIOS LOUKAS”, the dedicated team of oncologists, radiophysicists, technologists and other nursing and administrative staff work closely together to provide personalized care, tailored to the unique needs of each patient. We combine the latest technology with a human approach to bring hope and healing to those fighting cancer.

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The Oncologists - Radiotherapy are the head of the team, study the patient's medical record and determine the indication for radiotherapy, select the treatment regimen and monitor its correct execution daily;

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THE Radiophysicists work mainly on the part of treatment planning, confirming the dose to the patient, ensuring each operation performed with the delivery of radiation dose to the patient.

The Radiophysicists team consists of highly experienced professionals, with experience both abroad and in Greece.

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The TechnologistsRadiation therapy personnel are responsible for the operation of the equipment of the department, carry out daily checks, perform the procedure of axial simulation before the start of treatment, as well as the application of therapeutic radiation during the sessions.

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