Meet Sam Cervantes. Sam is a radiation therapist RT(t) at the Tacoma Valley Radiation Oncology Center in Western Washington. The TVROC is a regional network of treatment centers made up of five locations around the Puget Sound. Jackson Hall Medical Center in Tacoma, WA; St. Joseph Medical Pavilion, also in Tacoma; Dr. Richard C. Ostenson Cancer Center in Puyallup; Jane Thompson Russell Cancer Care Center in Gig Harbor and Capital Medical Center in Olympia.
Sam runs the Hyperthermia equipment in the oncology department. Originally from Florida, she has been living in Washington State for the past three years. She tells us they typically use the PYREXAR BSD-500 Superficial Hyperthermia System to treat Recurrent Chest Wall tumors (breast cancer) and Head & Neck tumors in conjunction with radiotherapy. Typically, each radiation session is accompanied by a 45-minute treatment of hyperthermia. “We bring the treatment area up to our target temperature of 42˚F and hold that temperature. The results are great”.
One system is transported to each of the five treatment centers to share. This makes the system very affordable and increases access to superior care. During our visit, we found everyone in the TVROC to be high quality, dedicated professionals who care deeply about their patient's health. And did I mention great results! To learn more about the clinical studies on treating RCW breast cancer and Head & Neck cancers using hyperthermia, click the links.