TomoTherapy^® Only at UConn Health Center

The UConn Health Center is the only site in Connecticut t to offer patients a revolutionary cancer treatment, the TomoTherapy® Hi-Art® treatment system.

TomoTherapy is an effective treatment for head and neck cancer, prostate cancer, gynecologic cancer and others. Its advanced system:

• Customizes treatment delivery for each patient.
• Acquires 3D images of tumors before every treatment.
• Delivers precise targeting and attacking of cancer cells.
• Minimizes radiation to healthy tissue.
  

“Precision and accuracy can make a big difference in treating some tumors that are adjacent to critical organs, such as the brain, head and neck, and prostate,” said Robert Dowsett, M.D., chief of the Division of Radiation Oncology at the Health Center. The TomoTherapy system is housed within the Health Center’s newly renovated, state-of-the-art Radiation Oncology center.

Before a patient receives TomoTherapy, a detailed three-dimensional image is taken of the area being treated. The physician then uses special software to “paint” on the image, identifying specific regions to receive radiation, and those areas to remain untouched.

Unlike previous technologies that use wide bands of radiation from a limited choice of directions, TomoTherapy uses rotating narrow “pencil” beams of radiation to treat the tumor from all sides, with variable intensity.

This treatment and technology was made possible by a generous donation from Connecticut natives Carole and Ray Neag, who have a long history of support to the Health Center and the university.

The Neags say that their interest in TomoTherapy stems from Mrs. Neag’s radiation treatments, and their desire to put the Health Center at the forefront of cancer research and technology.