Calypso 'GPS for the Body' System Offers Patients Treating for Breast Cancer at Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Midwestern Regional Medical Center Even More Treatment Options

CHICAGO, July 16, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Radiation Oncologists at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) at Midwestern Regional Medical Center (Midwestern) are using Calypso® 'GPS for the Body' technology to enhance the delivery of radiotherapy treatment. Through Calypso, physicians are able to deliver focused doses of radiation with greater precision for patients being treated for breast cancer while minimizing radiation exposure of the heart, lungs, and other healthy tissues. The Calypso system uses a set of tiny transmitters called "beacons" to enable real-time motion tracking throughout a treatment session.

"Radiotherapy can be a very effective method of treating cancer," said Dr. Kamal Patel, medical director of radiation oncology at CTCA® at Midwestern. "The Calypso technology and the non-invasive surface beacons allow us to more precisely target a tumor while reducing radiation exposure to the vital organs. It's very similar to how a GPS tracking system in a car can locate where the car is at all times in relation to its destination."

Prior to treatment, the Beacon® transponders are placed on the skin near the middle of the patient's chest to track respiratory movement and other patient motion. Patients are then asked to take a deep breath and hold it for a few seconds. This expands the chest and moves the heart out of the path where radiotherapy beams will be placed. Radiation oncologists then use this "map" to deliver the prescribed radiotherapy. The technology allows for continuous monitoring during treatment and will discontinue the delivery of radiation if the patient's breathing pattern falls outside the "mapped" treatment plan. 

"As a nuclear medicine technologist, and working in healthcare for over 22 years, I fully understand the importance of precision when it comes to treating cancer," said Deborah Mitchell, a breast cancer patient at CTCA at Midwestern. "I felt confident in the decision I made, along with my radiation oncologist, to treat my breast cancer using the Calypso technology.  In addition, my integrated care team truly concentrated on keeping my entire body healthy by focusing on my overall health and wellbeing through nutrition counseling, physical therapy, mind-body medicine and other supportive therapies."

The Calypso^® 4D Localization System^™ is approved for use in treating all soft-tissue tumors and for external treatment of tumors in superficial tissues, such as the breast. It is the latest of many leading-edge radiation therapies to be offered at CTCA at Midwestern. The CTCA at Midwestern breast center is the only center in Illinois, and one of only 50 centers nationally, to be recognized as a Certified Quality Breast Center of Excellence^™ by the National Quality Measures for Breast Centers Program^® (NQMBC^™), reinforcing the hospital's position as a national leader in breast cancer care.

"Providing patients battling breast cancer with the latest technology options to treat their cancer is very important – Calypso is just one of the many options," said Dr. Patel.

For more information on Calypso or other radiotherapy treatments available at CTCA at Midwestern, visit www.cancercenter.com.

About Cancer Treatment Centers of America^®
Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Inc. (CTCA) is a national network of five hospitals that specialize in the treatment of patients fighting complex or advanced-stage cancer. CTCA offers an integrative approach to cancer treatment that combines surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy with nutritional counseling, naturopathic medicine, mind-body therapy, and spiritual support to enhance quality of life and minimize side effects during treatment. The company serves patients from all 50 states at hospitals located in Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Tulsa. Known for delivering the Mother Standard^® of care and Patient Empowerment Medicine^®, CTCA provides patients with comprehensive information about their treatment options so they can participate in their treatment decisions. For more information about CTCA, go to www.cancercenter.com.

About Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Midwestern Regional Medical Center
Cancer Treatment Centers of America^® (CTCA) at Midwestern Regional Medical Center is a 73 bed specialty hospital dedicated to treating patients battling complex cancer. CTCA^® at Midwestern is nationally recognized for providing innovative and individualized cancer care and has been designated by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) a Magnet Recognized® program, ranking the hospital as one of the top seven percent in the nation for nursing excellence. CTCA at Midwestern has been designated by the National Quality Measures for Breast Centers Program (NQMBC^®) as a Certified Quality Breast Center of Excellence™, ranking the hospital among the top centers in the country for quality breast cancer care. CTCA at Midwestern is the only Certified Breast Center of Excellence in Illinois, and one of only 50 nationally. As a member of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) the hospital also offers a Stem Cell Transplant and Cell Therapy program that provides a full spectrum of transplantation services and advanced treatment options for hematologic cancers. CTCA is recognized by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center for demonstrating compliance with the FACT-JACIE International Standards for Cellular Therapy Product Collection, Processing and Administration. CTCA at Midwestern is also recognized by the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®) Certification Program, an affiliate of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), for meeting the highest standards for quality cancer care. CTCA at Midwestern is proud to use the latest technology to offer advanced treatment for cancer and is currently one of only a few hospitals in the nation to combine recent advances in brain mapping and navigation to perform minimally invasive brain surgery on hard to reach brain tumors.

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SOURCE Cancer Treatment Centers of America

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http://www.cancercenter.com