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Oncologics, Inc., has undergone major renovations, including the installation of radiotherapy equipment with many advanced capabilities. A CT scanner allows doctors to pinpoint the area to be treated and precisely define the nearby critical structures. Information from the CT scanner is then transmitted to a new high-speed computer capable of designing complex treatment plans rapidly.

The computer treatment plan is further linked to a newly installed machine called a linear accelerator. The linear accelerator uses computer-controlled beam shaping to precisely deliver radiation to the tumor while minimizing the radiation given to the normal tissues.

Another exciting new tool is called intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). This tool allows the radiation dose to be shaped closely around the tumor and to avoid nearby structures.

These new tools for treating cancer provide patients in Laurel the latest technology in radiation treatment and thereby ensure the greatest chances of cure while minimizing the side effects of treatment.

“This new cancer center provides state-of-the-art cancer care to patients in southern Mississippi,” says Cameron Pimperl, MD, radiation oncologist with Oncologics, Inc. “The center combines high-tech equipment with highly trained personnel who have enormous compassion for their patients. The cancer center also works together with the rest of the multidisciplinary cancer team in Laurel, providing cancer patients with the very best medical care.”