SMH Regional Cancer Center Showcases New Cancer-Fighting Investment

(Jan. 19, 2023 – Slidell, La.) – Members of the community, local elected officials and ___ gathered at the Slidell Memorial Hospital Regional Cancer Center last week as the Radiation Oncology Department unveiled two new pieces of equipment integral to fighting cancer. The St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce and Slidell Memorial hosted a Business After Hours and Ribbon Cutting event on Thursday, January 12, with approximately 125 people in attendance.

The SMH Regional Cancer Center invested in two new Varian TrueBeam™ linear accelerators to replace the equipment in place when the Cancer Center opened in 2011. These linear accelerators are powerful new tools in cancer treatment, with sophisticated imaging and radiation delivery. The machines offer focused radiation therapy with pinpoint accuracy while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue, allowing therapists to treat many different types of tumors, even those in sensitive areas like the abdomen, liver, lung, breast, prostate, head and neck.

“This year, we were able to replace two linear accelerators,” said SMH Chief Administrative Officer Holly Sanchez. “In simple terms, these are huge pieces of equipment designed to produce more powerful and more precise cancer treatment in a shorter amount of time. This process took nearly two years and involved construction, long hours, and the dedication of our Radiation Oncology team to keep our patients on their treatment schedules while we went down to one machine.”

The new equipment allows the Radiation Therapy team to treat patients in a much shorter time frame; treatment can now be completed in fewer than two minutes, greatly reducing the chance of tumor motion during treatment. The linear accelerators utilize 3D imaging during the treatment to precisely target tumors, even accounting for movement as patients breathe in and out. Built-in, advanced communication allows the therapist to be in constant contact, or patients may listen to music during treatment to keep patients calm and comfortable.

The SMH Board of Commissioners approved the $4.4 million investment.