CANCER patients in the south [...].CANCER patients in the south of England could benefit from a faster, more accurate form of radiotherapy. RapidArc has been available at the NHS NHS abbr. National Health Service NHS (in Britain) National Health Service Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology in Merseyside for more than a year and is now being introduced in a private London clinic which can treat some NHS patients. The Harley Street Noun 1. Harley Street - a street in central London where the consulting rooms of many physicians and surgeons are located British capital, capital of the United Kingdom, Greater London, London - the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in Cancer Centre is the first in the capital to make use of the new technology by installing two machines. RapidArc uses a unique tumour mapping system to deliver highly-targeted cancer therapy, moving around the tumour at 360 degrees. Patients may only need two minutes of treatment rather than the 20 minutes they would face with older systems. As well as being faster, RapidArc is so specific that it causes far less damage to healthy tissue near the tumour. For example, prostate cancer prostate cancer, cancer originating in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is the leading malignancy in men in the United States and is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in men. patients frequently suffer radiation damage to their bladder and rectum rectum: see intestine. rectum End segment of the large intestine (see digestion) in which feces accumulate just prior to discharge. It is 5–6 in. (13–15 cm) long and lined with mucous membrane. , but the new system cuts down the risk of harm in these areas. NHS patients can be referred to the Harley Street Cancer Centre if their specialist agrees they need the treatment, or people can pay privately. Chief executive Neil Buckley said: "We now have the most comprehensive cancer care service in Europe as we treat every type of cancer for every age. "As well as all the new technology, we are growing our network of diagnostic and treatment centres around London so that patients can get fast access to see one of our 700 top consultants closer to where they live or work." |
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