A New Generation Of Cancer Care

A diagnosis of cancer is overwhelming for anyone, but at Albert C. Mak, M.D., Inc., we have opened the door to a new generation of cancer care. We are the first treatment center in San Gabriel Valley to provide external beam radiation therapy in utilizing the new Varian iX Linear Accelerator with Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) capability and On-Board Imaging (OBI). IMRT is an advanced form of high-precision radiotherapy that enables us to deliver accurate and more precise radiation treatment. In addition, we also utilize Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT), a sophisticated, cutting-edge imaging technology, to verify patient position and tumor position at the time of treatment. By adding IGRT, we can now precisely treat tumors and avoid healthy tissue. Our computer controlled targeting capabilities mean a better chance of cure with few side effects.

About Our Technology

  • Tissues, organs, and many tumors are not rigidly fixed in one position; they move around inside the body due to natural physiological processes.

    For this reason, they are not always in the exact same position each time a patient is positioned for treatment.

    In addition, tumors can move several centimeters due to a patient's normal respiratory cycle.

    For Dynamic Targeting IGRT, the medical linear accelerator, or treatment machine, is outfitted with a number of sophisticated imaging devices that provide us with images that help to guide the treatment.

    An X-ray system mounted on a robotic arm is rotated around the body to gather images that pinpoint a tumor's exact location just prior to treatment. These images are then compared with reference images (MRI, CT or other kinds of scans) in order to determine if the tumor is where it is expected to be, or off by some margin. Sophisticated software programs calculate how to move the patient so that the tumor is directly in the center of the treatment beam.

    Knowing the exact tumor location allows us to reduce the amount of tissue treated. The tumor can be more accurately targeted, sparing more of the surrounding healthy tissue, reducing side effects, and ultimately, improving the patient's quality of life. In some cases, it makes it possible to deliver higher radiation doses to the tumor, increasing the likelihood of local tumor control.

    Another accessory for "respiratory gating," can be used to coordinate treatment with respiration, to compensate for tumor motion due to the patient's breathing. This is useful for treating lung cancer and other tumors in the chest or abdomen that move as the patient breathes.
  • • Over 60% of cancer patients receive some form of radiotherapy as part of their treatment. This is because radiotherapy is very effective at controlling many forms of cancer by destroying cancer cells’ ability to reproduce.

    • Through more precise targeting of the beam, dosage levels can be increased and target volumes (the three-dimensional areas to receive treatment) can be reduced—so tumors get a higher dose of radiation and healthy surrounding tissues get very little.

    • Imaging and tracking technologies that are used in delivering IGRT enable doctors to treat tumors even if they are close to vital structures like the spinal column, salivary glands, heart, or lungs. This can mean substantially fewer side effects and a much better post-treatment quality of life.

VARIAN-PICTURE

Our Approach

Cancer is difficult to deal with all alone. For this reason, we take a team approach to caring for our patients.

It is our goal to provide the most innovative, comprehensive and personalized cancer treatment options along with high-quality and compassionate patient care.

Get In Touch With Albert C. Mak, M.D., Inc.

707 S. Garfield Ave., Suite B002
Alhambra, CA 91801

Tel: (626) 227-2777

Fax: (626) 227-2747

Open M-F 8a-5p

Contact Albert C. Mak M.D., Inc.

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