GLASGOW, Scotland, July 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Cancer patients in the west of Scotland will gain access to state-of-the-art cancer treatment closer to home when a new radiotherapy center opens near Glasgow next year. Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) has been selected to equip the new department and an order was placed in June for four TrueBeam' medical linear accelerators.
Two of the new TrueBeam systems, which offer fast and efficient radiotherapy and radiosurgery treatments, will replace older treatment machines at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Center in Glasgow. The hospital treats more than 7,000 patients each year on 11 Varian medical linear accelerators. With a catchment area covering half the population of Scotland, the center has a history of pioneering advanced radiotherapy treatments.
The other two Varian TrueBeam systems will equip the Beatson's new satellite department at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie, situated about 15 miles east of Glasgow. Around 80 patients a day are expected to undergo radiotherapy at the new satellite service.
Designed to treat a moving tumor with speed and accuracy, Varian's TrueBeam system incorporates numerous technical innovations that dynamically synchronize imaging, patient positioning, motion management, and treatment delivery during a radiotherapy or radiosurgery procedure. TrueBeam has been designed to advance the treatment of lung, breast, intracranial, prostate, head and neck, and other types of cancer.
"These new machines represent the latest in linear accelerator technology so we can extend the range of treatments to more patients," says Garry Currie, head of radiotherapy physics. "The planned opening of the new facility in Monklands as a satellite of the Beatson will be the next step forward for our patients in the west of Scotland in delivering high quality and effective radiotherapy treatments."
"We are delighted to extend our partnership and to continue serving the people of Scotland with industry leading radiotherapy and radiosurgery systems," says Andrew Grocott, Varian's UK area sales manager says. "We have strong partnerships with clinicians across Scotland and we are committed to offering the best cancer care to all patients in Scotland."
Cancer in Scotland
A Scottish Government report estimates that 31,500 new cancer patients will be diagnosed annually by 2015 and, of that number, around 15,000 are likely to require radiotherapy.
Editorial contact: Neil Madle, Varian Medical Systems, +44 7786 526068
About Varian Medical Systems
Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California, is the world's leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, and brachytherapy. The company supplies informatics software for managing comprehensive cancer clinics, radiotherapy centers and medical oncology practices. Varian is a premier supplier of tubes, digital detectors, and image processing software and workstations for X-ray imaging in medical, scientific, and industrial applications, and also supplies high-energy X-ray devices for cargo screening and non-destructive testing applications. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 6,700 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, and China and approximately 70 sales and support offices around the world. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com or follow us on Twitter.
SOURCE Varian Medical Systems
