Eye of the Storm continued
complexity of cancer care, which often
requires chemotherapy or surgery combined
with radiation, any reduction in side effects
could improve outcomes.
New technology benefits patients
The department is dedicated to improving
technology, and making radiation
treatments faster and safer for patients.
“We are using some leading treatments,
including stereotactic radiosurgery,
particularly for cancer of the lung and
brain,” Dr. Mutyala says. Although
stereotactic radiosurgery is not an
invasive surgical procedure, it allows
radiation oncologists to deliver high
doses of radiation with extreme
precision, killing cancer cells or
abnormalities quickly.
The Scott & White Cancer
Institute now offers the most
advanced stereotactic radiosurgery
procedures in Central Texas. This
means that patients can receive
complex and expert care close to
home, rather than having to travel to
Dallas or Houston. A new form of
technology, called the Novalis TX
Radiosurgery Platform, offers faster and
more precise radiation treatments for
tumors. With this new technology, some
patients can receive cancer-curing
radiation treatments in a handful of
sessions, rather than having to endure
several weeks of daily radiation, surgery, or
no treatment at all. “No one else in the
area has the Novalis TX right now,” says
Joseph Prosser, director of the Department
of Radiation Oncology. “We’re really
focused on making patients’ experiences
Dr. Subhakar Mutyala led the effort to acquire the Novalis TX Radiosurgery Platform.
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THE CATALYST Spring 11 | www.sw.org