This month, Hoag Family Cancer Institute celebrates the third anniversary of our ViewRay MRIdian™ magnetic resonance-guided linear accelerator (MR-Linac), the most advanced radiation treatment available in the United States. As the first in Orange County and second in California to offer the technology, we have an unrivaled expertise using this technology in Southern California, having administered more than 2,000 treatments to cancer patients from across the nation—and even internationally—to date.
Hoag implemented the MR linear accelerator in 2020, through the generosity of community donors Dean and Gerda Koontz, and was the 16th institution in the nation to offer it to cancer patients.
Using what is known as adaptive technology, the MRIdian MR Linac combines MRI imaging with a linear accelerator to precisely locate tumors and deliver the most targeted, accurate treatment possible. While traditional technology can require up to 20 radiation therapy sessions, the MR Linac can treat some cancer types in as few as three-to-five treatment sessions. These fewer sessions often equal less side effects for our patients.
The MRIdian adapts to its environment. If a tumor happens to shift during treatment due to movement in the body, the MRIdian treatment will automatically stop, avoiding radiating healthy tissue. The technology’s precision also allows our multidisciplinary team to deliver a higher, potentially more effective radiation treatment—all while saving healthy, surrounding tissue.
Please join us in celebrating another example of Hoag’s commitment to offering the very best – and most advanced– options anywhere for cancer treatment. At Hoag, when it comes to cancer treatment, you are not alone.
Learn more about the MRIdian linear accelerator.
