Cancer Center Combines Technology with a Personal Touch

Being diagnosed with cancer is traumatic, but the good news is that advances in medical technology have helped improve treatment. At Sutter Solano Cancer Center (SSCC), patients get state-of-the-art technology that rivals any research institute and a caring staff of professionals who enjoy developing relationships.

The Bay Area certainly has its share of well-respected medical facilities. Perhaps it will come as a surprise that the same cancer-treating technology used at places with world-class reputations is available to Solano County residents—right in their own backyard.

Advanced Technology
More than 50 percent of all cancer patients receive radiation therapy as part of their treatment. Thanks to new technology such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), doctors can be even more precise when treating patients with radiation, according to James Knister, M.D., SSCC radiation oncologist with more than 20 years of experience. IMRT lets doctors use 3-D modeling to target tumors with surgical precision and minimize damage to healthy tissue. Patients benefit from fewer side effects because less healthy tissue is exposed to radiation.

Dr. Knister says that using IMRT can also result in higher cure rates and fewer long-term problems. IMRT has revolutionized the treatment of prostate cancer, and it is commonly used to treat cancers of the head and neck. It’s also being developed to help treat breast cancer and other tumors.

A Caring Team
Going hand-in-hand with sophisticated technology is having an experienced, talented staff to oversee its use. The multidisciplinary team at SSCC includes radiation oncologists, radiation therapists, oncology certified nurses, a Ph.D. medical physicist and a dosimetrist (a person who helps design IMRT treatment plans) with 15 years of experience.

The SSCC team is compassionate toward patients, something that’s especially important with radiation treatments typically occurring five days a week over a seven-week period. This allows strong relationships to be formed, allowing patients to receive truly personalized service.

Sutter Solano Cancer Center is located at 100 Hospital Dr. in Vallejo. Appointments can be made by calling 707-551-3400.


Contact:
Russell Neilson, supervisor, communications and marketing, 707-554-5123