A powerful new technology coming to Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center’s Cancer Institute will give more hope to those who have cancerous and non-cancerous conditions of the entire body. The Novalis Tx™ radiosurgery platform offers a non-invasive treatment option without harming nearby healthy tissue and without traditional surgery.

The $4.3 million treatment unit is the result of a collaborative effort between Varian Medical Systems and BrainLab, Inc. Novalis Tx has the ability to treat a wide range of deep-seated, malignant and benign tumors in the head and body with high dose delivery rate, a precision shaped radiation beam and non-invasive immobilization. An image-guidance system provides doctors with detailed information about the shape, size and position of the tumor.

“Novalis Tx will make it possible for us to treat cancers anywhere in the body, incorporating state-of-the-art technologies that ensure accurate treatments,” said Ronald Krochak, MD, a board certified radiation oncologist.

With the pairing of Varian’s RapidArc system, treatments can be delivered two to eight times faster than conventional external radiation therapy - reducing the likelihood of patient or tumor movement.

“Treatments are fast and accurate and it has expanded the kinds of cancers we can treat. Without this machine, there aren’t many options available for patients with recurring cancers,” Krochak said.

Currently, 43 Novalis Tx systems are available nationwide and Florida Hospital Memorial will be one out of only seven hospitals in Florida that can provide the treatment.

Early studies suggest Novalis Tx can result in a better survival rate for certain cancer patients, when compared to other radiosurgery options.

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