(Dededo) - GRMC has brought its advanced linear accelerator on line and the hospital’s radiation oncology team will start using it to provide care to cancer patients starting next week.

GRMC Radiation Oncologist Dr. Arthur Ko today announced the activation of the “True Beam” linear accelerator which is the most advanced such device in the Asia/Pacific region. It generates high energy X-ray beams which destroy cancerous cells with pinpoint accuracy causing minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

“This is the top of the line model, it is precise down to 1 millimeter,” said Dr. Ko. “It means we can offer the most advanced radiation treatment available anywhere, as good as any offered on the mainland.”

The chance to work with GRMC’s linear accelerator is one of the reasons why Dr. Ko came to Guam. He also holds a Ph.D. in cancer biology and served as Chairman of the Radiation Oncology Department at the Indiana University Health Arnett Hospital before coming to GRMC.

Dr. Ko emphasizes that the GRMC Radiation Oncology Department is a team. “I couldn’t do this alone, each member of the team plays an important role.”

That team includes Summer Medler, RN, who manages patient care and education from start to finish. Medical Physicist Amanda Jackson is responsible for calibrating the linear accelerator ensuring that the radiation dosage prescribed is delivered. Mark Kraft is the Medical Dosimetrist who calculates the optimal radiation plan and dose distribution. Katie Kessler is the Radiation Therapy Technologist, the only one certified and licensed to actually operate the linear accelerator.

Radiation oncology is one of the 3 primary ways to treat cancer, along with surgical oncology and medical (chemotherapy) oncology. All 3 pillars of cancer care are now available at GRMC.###