Health

By ASHLIE OSBURN
Staff Writer

Alvin Ray McCollom, 84, underwent the first stereotactic radiosurgery of its kind this morning at Mother Frances Neuroscience Institute and Texas Oncology — receiving treatment for three brain tumors within 30 minutes.

The Novalis Tx stereotactic radiosurgery system at Mother Frances is among the first technologies in the United States providing radiation treatment two and a half times faster than other machines, said Chief Neurosurgeon Dr. Sabatino Bianco.

“Stereotactic is a computerized way of delivering radiation therapy precisely to target areas. That allows very precise deliverance to the target while theoretically sparing normal tissues around,” said Dr. Mark Saunders, radiation oncologist with Texas Oncology of Tyler.

Dr. Bianco said all the planning and prepping is done in advance, so when the patient arrives, it takes under an hour to complete treatment.

“You come here for one day and have the treatment and go back home,” Dr. Bianco said.

McCollom said he is pleased to have completed his treatment and is in no pain.

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(EDITOR'S NOTE: A more detailed story and more photographs will be posted later. Watch for it on TylerPaper.com)


Updated Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 3:54 p.m. CDT

Mother Frances Hospital Neurosurgeon Dr. Sabatino Bianco (left) and Oncologist Mark Saunders (right) chat with patient Alvin Ray McCollom after undergoing SRS (Stereostatic Radio Surgery) on Thursday.
((Staff Photo By Jaime R. Carrero))