Icon’s decision to embrace RapidArc Dynamic was driven by strong early results showing faster treatment planning, reduced radiation exposure to healthy organs, and potential to set new standards in patient-centred care. Icon is the first in the Southern Hemisphere and only the third worldwide to clinically treat with RapidArc Dynamic, marking a major step forward in radiation therapy, particularly for patients with breast and prostate cancer.
A Southern Hemisphere First – New Cutting-Edge Radiotherapy now available at Icon Cancer Centre
Cancer patients at Icon Cancer Centre Midland are now benefitting from the latest state-of-the-art radiation treatment planning and delivery technology with the introduction of Varian’s RapidArc Dynamic solution.
The introduction of RapidArc Dynamic technology at Icon has yielded significant data-driven improvements in treatment planning and execution including:
- Treatment Planning Efficiency: With the use of advanced deterministic algorithms that automate key planning processes, RapidArc Dynamic has achieved up to an 80% reduction in treatment planning time for breast radiotherapy. This innovation enables clinicians to streamline treatment design, further reducing the number of arcs required from up to five down to a single arc per plan.
- Reduced Radiation to Organs at Risk (OAR): Reduced radiation exposure to critical organs. For example, the mean dose to the heart has dropped by an average of 22%, lowering the risk of side effects and improving patients’ quality of life.
- Physician Confidence in Treatment Plans: In a recent blinded physician review, RapidArc Dynamic-based plans were selected as optimal in 100% of cases, demonstrating broad clinical confidence in the technology’s ability to enhance plan quality and potentially yield better patient outcomes.
Prof John Boyages AM, Icon Radiation Oncologist involved in RapidArc Dynamic’s early plan quality evaluations, highlighted the clinical impact of this technology.
“I’m really excited about this technology. We already have some of the best treatment plans I’ve seen in my 40-year career at Icon, and this has just taken it to another level. I’m blown away by the ability to curve radiation around healthy organs and reduce doses to tissues like the heart to very safe levels whilst giving the right doses to the cancer areas,” said Prof Boyages.
The deployment of RapidArc Dynamic is anticipated to guide future dosimetry recommendations, especially for complex breast and nodal studies. The technology’s potential for automated planning and initial success with other disease sites signal a shift toward establishing RapidArc Dynamic as a new standard of care in radiotherapy.
Icon Group CEO, Mark Middleton OAM says this highlights an ongoing commitment to reducing the global cancer burden.
“We’re extremely proud of our long-term global partnership with Varian which has enabled us to be early adopters of new techniques and technologies,” said Mark.
“RapidArc Dynamic adds to our suite of advanced radiotherapy treatments and techniques across our global network and is another example of our commitment to bringing world-class treatments to more communities across the world.”
Icon is part of Varian’s RapidArc Dynamic Consortium helping support ongoing data collection and clinical assessment, ensuring that patient outcomes continue to drive innovations in cancer treatment.
Based on clinical data Icon has plans to introduce RapidArc Dynamic to more locations.
Learn more about Icon Cancer Centre Midland.
Pictured L – R: Clinical Specialist at Varian, Loretta Greenwood, Clinical Lead Radiation Therapist, Tim Gosling, Radiation Therapist and Project Lead, Carissa Arthur, Icon Cancer Centre Midland Site Manager, Giselle Condos, and Clinical Specialist at Varian, Rachel Ward
A career with Icon
At Icon, you’ll help change lives, every single day. In return for your passion, dedication and agility, we offer a workplace where you can.
Icon Cancer Centre joins the New Epping Health Hub
Bringing world-leading cancer care to Melbourne’s north
Icon Cancer Centre
Learn more about our cancer centre network in Australia
Updates
Read the latest news and updates across Icon Group