This press release contains dated information and should be used for background only.
Who:
The University of Kansas Hospital Radiation Oncology Department
What:
Installation of linear accelerator, which can deliver high-energy X-rays and electron beams to tumors with pinpoint accuracy.
When:
Sunday, September 16, 2001, Time TBA.
Where:
The University of Kansas Hospital Center, Radiation Oncology building, west side of campus on Rainbow Blvd., just south of Olathe Blvd. in Kansas City, Kan.
Contact:
Bob Hallinan, 913-588-5246, pager, 913-917-7895.
Background information:
Because of the size of this machine, it must be lowered into place with a large crane through a hole in the roof of Radiation Oncology. The exact time of the lowering will not be determined until early Sunday. We will contact you when we have that information.
Linear accelerators use high-energy X-rays and electron beams to treat cancers deep within the body. Patients with prostate, breast, head and neck, pancreatic and other cancers will benefit as physicians can carefully target tumor cells without harming surrounding healthy tissue. Side effects from traditional radiation therapy are greatly reduced.
After testing and training with the new linear accelerator, Radiation Oncology staff members expect to treat the first patients in December.