TrueBeam Technology to help protect and treat breast cancer patients

As part of its extended coverage during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the CBS 58 News at 4:30 p.m. will have a local expert live to discuss TrueBeam Technology to help protect and treat breast cancer patients.

The treatment allows doctors to pinpoint tumors more precisely, saving healthy tissue and decreasing treatment time for patients.

It does require patients to be part of a technique called "Deep Inspiration Breath Hold."

Patients take a deep breath in and hold it for 15-20 seconds while the radiation machine is on. This causes the diaphragm to fall and the heart moves away from the chest wall and breast tissue. The procedure allows doctor to protect most, if not all of the heart keeping the radiation exposure away from it.

TrueBeam Technology can be used to treat more than just breast cancer including cancers in the lung, abdomen and head and neck.

It's on a digital platform which makes it easier to use the pictures taken to compare with other radiology tests like CTs and MRIs.

Dr. Shannon Offerman, a radiation oncologist from Wheaton Franciscan was a live guest Tuesday on the CBS 58 News at 4:30  p.m.

We've attached the complete interview to this story. 

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