VU hospital: Europe’s first to use precise cancer radiation therapy

The VUmc hospital in Amsterdam is the first hospital in Europe to have a device that can radiate a tumor more accurately, thereby dong less damage to surrounding tissue, the hospital announced on Thursday. The first patient, a patient with prostate cancer, already completed his treatment with the "revolutionary" MRIdian. The MRIdian is a irradiation device combined with a MRI machine, which means the the tumor is visible during radiation. As a result, the radiation treatment can be done more accurately, making it possible to treat a patient with a smaller number of irradiations with a higher dose. This means there is a smaller chance of serious side effects and patients undergo fewer treatments - most patients can complete their treatment within two weeks, instead of the normal four to seven weeks. The patient can also actively help during the radiation. On a monitor, the patient can see the movement of his tumor and keep the tumor in the correct position by regulating his breathing. This new way of treatment will have value for patients with kidney, prostate, bladder, breast, rectum, pancreas, liver or central lung cancer, according to the hospital.