A new breakthrough in cancer treatment: Let's learn about VMAT technology? (Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy)

It's hard to put into words the fear and anxiety you feel when you find out that you or a loved one has cancer. And then when you hear about treatment, you may feel even more scared when you hear about "radiation therapy." But medical science is improving day by day. Today we are going to talk about one such advanced, very fast treatment method that targets only cancer cells and greatly reduces the damage to healthy cells. This is called VMAT.

So, what is this VMAT?

Simply put, VMAT is an acronym for 'Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy'. This is a very advanced radiation therapy used to kill cancer cells. To be precise, it is a type of External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT). This means that no radioactive material is injected into your body. So there is no need to worry about radiation escaping from your body during or after treatment.

Imagine, as you lie in bed, a large machine slowly rotates around you, continuously targeting radiation beams, targeting only the area where the cancer is. That's what happens with VMAT technology.

This is an advanced version of another radiation treatment method, IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy). In IMRT, instead of one large beam of radiation, many smaller beams of radiation at different intensities are delivered to the tumor. This greatly reduces the damage to healthy tissue around the tumor. In VMAT, this same process occurs while the machine is continuously rotating, so the treatment can be done very precisely and quickly .

What types of cancer is VMAT treatment used for?

Because of the precision of VMAT technology, it is a great solution for treating cancer tumors that have an unusual shape or are located very close to vital organs in our body. For example, your oncologist may recommend this method to treat a cancer that has grown around an organ.

VMAT treatment is most commonly used for the following types of cancer.

How does this work? What happens before the treatment?

VMAT treatment is a very planned process. It involves several key steps.

1. Treatment Planning (Planning & Simulation)

This is the most important step. Your medical team will first take three-dimensional (3D) images of your body. This is usually done using a CT scan, but sometimes an MRI or PET scan. These images will help them determine exactly where the cancer is, its size, shape, and any healthy organs around it that need to be protected from radiation.

Then there is a planning session called "simulation". Here,

• You will be placed in the correct position on the treatment couch and the radiation beam will be positioned so that it hits the cancer exactly.
• You can use a temporary marker or a permanent marker, such as a small tattoo, on your skin to mark the exact location of the cancer.
• You may also use a mold or mask specifically made for your body to keep you in the same position without moving during the treatment.

This planning process can take a day or several days, as the treatment needs to be tailored to the exact shape of your cancer, using radiation beams as small as the tip of a pencil (2.5 x 5 millimeters).

2. During VMAT

A radiation therapist will position you on the treatment bed in the same position you were in during the planning session. He or she will then control the machine that delivers the radiation, called a ``LINAC - Linear Accelerator'', from a separate room. You will be able to talk to him or her through a microphone.

When the treatment begins, the LINAC machine slowly rotates around you. As it rotates, radiation beams of different shapes and strengths are aimed at the tumor. You won't feel these radiation beams, and you won't feel any pain. The radiation therapist will monitor everything carefully on a computer screen.

Although the entire treatment session takes about 20 minutes, the radiation is actually delivered for a very short period of time, about two minutes. The rest of the time is spent positioning you correctly.

3. After treatment (After VMAT)

Once the treatment session is over, you can go home and resume your daily activities as normal.

What are the benefits of VMAT treatment?

There are two main advantages of VMAT treatment: accuracy and speed.

Are there any side effects?

Since VMAT treatment causes less damage to healthy tissue, the risk of side effects is also low. However, some damage to healthy cells cannot be prevented. Whether or not side effects occur, and what they are, varies depending on the area of ​​the body being treated .

Everyone's experience is different. Some people may feel better immediately after treatment. Others may take several months to fully recover. Ask your doctor what to expect based on your health condition.

You will be given follow-up appointments after your treatment. Be sure to attend all of these appointments. Talk to your doctor about any symptoms or side effects you may have.

Cancer Treatment, Radiation Therapy, Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy