HASTINGS — Mary Lanning Healthcare and the Morrison Cancer Center are celebrating new advanced equipment at the cancer center.
An open house showcasing the new Linear Accelerator and CT scanner is set for Thursday, May 26, from 3-5 p.m. at the Morrison Center Center, 815 N. Kansas Avenue.
The new Linear Accelerator will be used for radiation therapy in addition to the Linear Accelerator already in place at the cancer center. The machine is part of the Varian Medical Systems line of “super” accelerators designed to advance the treatment of lung, breast, prostate, head and neck, and other types of cancer. The image-guided radiotherapy and radiosurgery equipment is designed to treat a moving target with unprecedented speed and accuracy.
Most treatments on the quieter equipment will take just a few minutes each. The machine will allow for a more comfortable patient experience because of less time on the treatment couch and reduced patient motion during treatment. Enhanced communication technology enables constant interaction between the patient and therapist. Three closed-circuit television systems enable the therapist to monitor the patient at all times. Music can be played during treatment to increase patient comfort.