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Fox Chase to Open State-of-the-Art Radiation Therapy Facility in Buckingham Township

PHILADELPHIA (December 1, 2008) — Fox Chase Cancer Center, known for pioneering the radiation therapy treatments of tomorrow, has announced plans to build a world-class radiation therapy facility in Buckingham, Pa. The new facility, approximately 19 miles from the Center's main campus, will give Bucks County residents more convenient access to Fox Chase's nationally recognized cancer treatment regimens, along with access to innovative care and clinical trials. Patients at Fox Chase Cancer Center at Buckingham will be able to take advantage of the latest advances in radiation therapy provided by some of the nation's most experienced doctors using state-of-the-art technologies.

Click here to learn more about Fox Chase Cancer Center Buckingham

Satellite facilities like Fox Chase Cancer Center at Buckingham represent one aspect of the Center's "hub-and-spoke" path for growth, which will enable Fox Chase to pursue its mission to reduce the burden of cancer and allow the Center to further strengthen its position as a national leader in cancer research, prevention, and treatment. Most importantly however, this model will provide patients who live outside the Philadelphia area greater access to the services of an NCI designated comprehensive cancer center. In addition to wholly owned facilities like Fox Chase Cancer Center at Buckingham, the Center will also pursue an array of new partnerships, joint ventures, and collaborative initiatives that will expand the Center's clinical and research regional presence in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.
"Initiatives like Fox Chase Cancer Center at Buckingham are part of the Center's strategy to grow as a national leader in cancer treatment," says Michael V. Seiden, MD, PhD, president and CEO of Fox Chase Cancer Center. "With the opening of this facility, new patients in Bucks County will be able to see Fox Chase's radiation oncology specialists in their community and our existing radiation patients living in Bucks County will find our new location more convenient."

Fox Chase pioneers many of the radiation therapies other centers later adopt. Because of its reputation as a leader in cancer care and treatment planning, Fox Chase radiation oncologists often partner with the world's foremost makers of medical equipment to develop new and improved applications of their technology — long before other facilities can offer them. "We are excited to offer the most advanced, state of the art radiation treatments in Bucks County. This is a true extension of the main facility and will allow patients to get the very best treatment close to home," said Eric M. Horwitz, MD, acting chairman of the department of radiation oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center. The facility at Buckingham will follow this same vision and will even offer cutting-edge technology not yet available on Fox Chase's main campus.

The Buckingham facility will offer the following state-of-the-art technologies:

The CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System
The world's first and only radiosurgery system designed to target tumors anywhere in the body with sub-millimeter accuracy. Using image-guidance technology and computer-controlled robotics, the CyberKnife system is designed to continuously track the tumor, detect its location, and correct for tumor and patient movement in real-time throughout the treatment.
Trilogy Linear Accelerator with Rapid Arc
Optimized for delivering higher radiation doses to smaller areas over shorter time periods, the Trilogy system makes radiation therapy possible at earlier stages and for more types of cancer. The Rapid Arc technology, which creates a smoother and more highly shaped radiation treatment, allows delivery of a continuously modulated dose to the entire tumor while sparing normal, healthy tissue — providing superior treatment plans that are more time-efficient and comfortable for patients.
LightSpeed RT 16 CT Simulator
Multi-slice CT is one of the most important tools for radiation treatment planning. With sub-millimeter slices and 16-slice coverage, the LightSpeed RT 16 CT Simulator enables rapid visualization of the smallest anatomic details for precise treatment planning, including complete definition of the tumor volume and geometric placement of radiation beams.
Calypso 4D Localization System
Working like a GPS system for the body, Calypso is the world's first real-time tracking method available to locate and internally track prostate tumors during the delivery of radiation therapy — allowing for more precise and accurate radiation targeting. Before each treatment, Calypso finds the tiny electromagnetic sensors implanted in the prostate (called beacon transponders) and helps the technologist re-align the treatment plan.

In addition to state-of-the-art technology, patients at the Buckingham facility will have access to a team of Fox Chase specialists who will carefully plan and carry out each patient's course of radiation treatment. The team will include physicians specializing in radiation therapy (radiation oncologists), radiation therapists, medical dosimetrists, medical radiation physicists, oncology nurses, and a wide array of support staff.

The new 12,500-square-foot facility will not only offer patients first-class care but will also have a green-influenced, environmentally friendly decor. More and more architects, engineers, building owners, and contractors base their decisions on green-influenced factors such as indoor air quality, raw-material conservation, and energy and water efficiency. In addition, the Buckingham facility will offer such elements such as natural lighting, soothing settings, appealing decor, and comfortable waiting areas.

The Buckingham facility is part of the Heritage Center at Buckingham, located two miles south of Doylestown and two miles west of Buckingham Village on Route 263 (York Road) and easily accessible to communities in the Central Bucks County region via Routes 202, 611, 313 (Swamp Road), and 413.

Fox Chase Cancer Center is one of the leading freestanding cancer research and treatments centers in the United States. Founded in 1904 in Philadelphia as the nation's first cancer hospital, Fox Chase became one of the first institutions to be designated a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1974. Today, Fox Chase conducts a broad array of nationally competitive basic, translational, and clinical research, with special programs in cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and community outreach. For more information, call 1-888-FOX-CHASE or 1-888-369-2427. Other 2008 releases

Media inquiries only, please contact Diana Quattrone at 215-728-7784.