CHICO, Calif. – Radiation therapy is finding new uses beyond cancer treatment at Valor Oncology.
“We’ve been treating patients with osteoarthritis and plantar fasciitis, the hands, the hips,” said Dr. Thomas Guerrero.
Dr. Guerrero explained that while the linear accelerator radiation machine was originally intended for cancer treatment, it now serves broader purposes.
“It accelerated electrons, there’s a big magnet that turns the electrons down, if you hit a target you convert it into X-rays or it can be extracted to treat surfaces like for skin cancer,” said Guerrero.
The transition to treating other conditions stems from findings that radiation can reduce inflammation.
“We found for some time that radiation reduces inflammation. In Europe, especially in Germany it’s being used to treat osteoarthritis and other benign inflammatory conditions,” said Guerrero.
Dr. Guerrero noted that the treatment works by reducing the signaling molecules of inflammation, preventing arthritis from eroding soft tissue. The process involves four sessions over two weeks.
“The patient will lay on our treatment table and we’ll align them with laser beams on the site we’re going to treat and then with the X-ray source and detector obtain a CT scan to make sure they’re aligned within a millimeter,” said Guerrero.
The results of this treatment are simple yet life-changing. Patients with severe osteoarthritis, who have experienced joint narrowing and loss of mobility, have reported improvements.
“One patient I had wasn’t able to write her bills every month. … Another patient couldn’t put a ring on and while she didn’t have significant pain reduction she was able to put a ring on and she was very impressed with that,” said Guerrero.
Valor Oncology boasts a 70-80% pain reduction success rate for this treatment. The procedure is covered by insurance but is limited to patients over 40.
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