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 TREATMENTS & TECHNOLOGY: The Elekta Agility™
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What is Agility? Agility is the next-generation, high-resolution beam shaping
solution from Elekta, a company with a long history of pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating
cancer and brain disorders. How does Agility work? First, your Radiation Oncologist prescribes
a treatment course to best meet your specific needs. He or she then works closely with your physicist and dosimetrist to plan
the optimal radiation beams and the number of doses required for maximum treatment effectiveness without compromising your
safety. External beam radiation therapy is delivered by a machine called a linear accelerator ("linac").
As they exit the machine, high energy x-rays are shaped to conform to the targeted tumor. This shaping is achieved by a multi-leaf
collimator (MLC) incorporated into the head of the machine. The MLC controls the shape of the beam through the movement
of many tungsten leaves to block various portions of the beam. Agility allows sophisticated customization of the beam that
is directed to the target tumor. How does Agility benefit patients? The more the shape of
the beam conforms to the size, shape and volume of the tumor, the more accurately it targets the tumor with minimal damage
to surrounding tissues. The enhanced targeting capabilities support advanced radiation treatment techniques, such as stereotactic
radiosurgery (SRS), stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT), and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Agility's
sophisticated beam shaping capabilities enable higher dosage with reduced risk of side effects, for optimal treatment customization
to support improved results. And, Agility enables faster treatment delivery, to help keep your time in treatment at a minimum.
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