Genesis CancerCare Queensland is first in Asia-Pacific region to use Elekta’s Venezia brachytherapy applicator
On June 13, clinicians at Genesis CancerCare Queensland delivered the first of three high dose rate brachytherapy treatments to a woman with loco-regionally advanced stage (IIB) cervical cancer. The patient’s post-chemoradiation brachytherapy boost treatments marked the first clinical use of Elekta’s Venezia™ Advanced Gynecological Applicator in the Australia / Asia-Pacific region.
Venezia is designed to treat not only the cervix using an intracavitary technique, but also disease extensions in the parametrium and vagina employing interstitial needles. The applicator enables doctors to treat advanced stages of cervical cancer, such as IIIA and IIIB with vaginal and parametrial extensions.
“This first patient was fortunate not to have disease spread requiring the use of interstitial needles, but Venezia will give us the capacity to begin using this treatment approach for cases involving disease spread to the parametrium or even for vaginal cancer cases as well,” says Dr. Nicola Lowrey, Genesis CancerCare radiation oncologist.
“The initial use of Venezia demonstrated how simple this applicator is to use,” says Dr. Andrea Garrett, a gynaecological oncologist, and the physician in charge of fixing Venezia in place in the patient. “Once we had a brief practice run outside the patient, the actual insertion in the patient went very smoothly.”
Both Drs. Lowrey and Garrett maintain that the “clickable” design of Venezia contributes in large part to making insertion in the patient simple.
“The ovoids of Venezia click together inside the patient, forming a ring,” Dr. Lowrey says. “The ring part of Venezia creates the desirable pear-shaped dose distribution that matches the shape of the cervix and endometrium.”
“Beyond ease of use and the versatility of Venezia for both intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy, the capability to create that optimal dose distribution with Venezia is really the most critical patient advantage,” adds Candice Deans, Genesis CancerCare Brachytherapy Services Manager. “We will definitely use Venezia as our stand-alone applicator for all of our cervical cancer cases that require brachytherapy.”
Genesis CancerCare is Australia's leading provider of radiotherapy treatments, performing 360,000 treatments across its national network each year. Genesis CancerCare is renowned for using the latest technology and most advanced techniques to deliver personalized treatments.
To learn more, visit elekta.com/Venezia.
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For further information, please contact:
Gert van Santen, Group Vice President Corporate Communications, Elekta AB
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Raven Canzeri, Global Public Relations Manager
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About Elekta
Elekta is proud to be the leading innovator of equipment and software used to improve, prolong and save the lives of people with cancer and brain disorders. Our advanced, effective solutions are created in collaboration with customers, and more than 6,000 hospitals worldwide rely on Elekta technology. Our treatment solutions and oncology informatics portfolios are designed to enhance the delivery of radiation therapy, radiosurgery and brachytherapy, and to drive cost efficiency in clinical workflows. Elekta employs 3,600 people around the world. Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, Elekta is listed on NASDAQ Stockholm. www.elekta.com