TrueBeam radiation

TrueBeam® radiation is an advanced cancer treatment that delivers radiation with extreme accuracy and speed, used for treating complex cancers that may be challenging to treat with conventional methods. It’s often used to treat tumors in the lung, breast, prostate, reproductive organs, head, neck, spine, and brain.

TrueBeam technology delivers precise radiation doses from nearly any angle, using a specially equipped linear acceleration machine that can move around your body during treatment. Its built-in imaging and motion management tools help clinicians “see” the tumor throughout treatment and synchronize the delivery of radiation beams with the movement of a patient’s body. This allows providers to track any positional shift in a tumor during treatment, keeping the radiation beams focused on cancer cells while avoiding healthy tissue.

In addition to its pinpoint accuracy, the speed of TrueBeam radiation treatment is what sets it apart from other types of radiation therapy. With TrueBeam technology, each radiation session can be delivered in just a few minutes when compared with traditional radiation techniques that require a half hour or longer per session. These shorter sessions can even be used for treatments with high doses of radiation.

At Penn Medicine, your TrueBeam treatment will be overseen by expert radiation oncologists who are doctors that specialize in radiation treatments for those with cancer. Your care team will also include a dosimetrist who determines the radiation dosages for your treatment and radiation therapists and nurses who provide you with care and support before, during, and after treatment.

TrueBeam technology is a particularly useful option for tumors that are complex, unusually shaped, or near major organs, making them tricky to treat. It can deliver different forms of radiation therapy including image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), among others. You’ll consult with a radiation oncologist to discuss whether TrueBeam radiation is the best treatment option for you based on the type, shape, and size of tumor and your health background.

TrueBeam radiation is used by Penn Medicine to treat a variety of cancer types, including:

• Brain cancer
• Spine cancer
• Pituitary cancer
• Gastrointestinal cancer such as stomach and gastrointestinal stromal tumors
• Head and neck cancer
• Lung cancer
• Breast cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Gynecological cancer

The TrueBeam linear accelerator, the machine used to deliver radiation, has built-in capabilities that enable it to make automatic adjustments during treatment, including changes to your position and to the direction of radiation rays. These real-time adjustments accommodate any movements to the tumor that occur during treatment, ensuring that the radiation is delivered with accuracy to the tumor cells. Much of this treatment process is fully automated.

You can expect the following during your TrueBeam radiation session:

• You’ll lie on a specially designed couch to receive treatment. Your couch may move during treatment to change your position if any movement in your tumor is detected.
• The TrueBeam radiation machine will move around you to deliver radiation beams. This process typically lasts just a few minutes.
• During treatment, you’ll be able to talk with your radiation therapist if you have questions or concerns.

Your doctor will create an individualized treatment plan for you based on the type of cancer being treated and the radiation dosage. The plan will include the number of treatment sessions and duration of each session.

The TrueBeam radiation approach synchronizes different parts of radiation therapy automatically, including imaging, treatment delivery, patient positioning, and motion detection. Because these components are computerized, TrueBeam treatment sessions are made with pinpoint accuracy. Side effects are minimized because radiation beams are focused precisely on cancer cells, cause less damage to healthy tissues, and can be delivered quickly.

As with other radiation treatments, some short-term side effects may include:

• Fatigue
• Skin sensitivity near the site of treatment, including flaky, peeling, dry, or itchy skin
• Nausea
• Hair loss

These symptoms usually resolve within a few months after treatment. Your care team can discuss methods to help you feel more comfortable.

Any long-term side effects are typically related to the area of the body being treated. You’ll have an opportunity to discuss any potential short-term or long-term side effects with your care team based on your unique case.

The radiation oncology team at Penn Medicine is one of the largest and most respected of its type in the world with doctors who are leaders in their field. We’re changing the way cancer is treated by offering today’s latest technology and treatment options, including TrueBeam radiation therapy. Because our clinicians are well versed in the latest research and clinical advances, you’ll have access to some of the most effective new treatments available.

As a high-volume center, our radiation therapy teams routinely perform procedures that may be done only occasionally at other locations, so you’ll receive expert care based on years of experience. We create individualized treatment plans with the most appropriate treatment for you. Throughout your care journey, our physicians, nurses, and clinical staff create a supportive environment and focus on treating you with compassion. We’ll answer any questions you have so you feel comfortable during treatment and confident in your health care.