Henry Ford Allegiance Health in Jackson is the first hospital in the state and one of the first in the country to acquire the Halcyon system for cancer treatment. The technology uses CT image-guided radiation therapy designed to increase treatment precision, decrease risk to healthy tissue, and reduce treatment time.
Halcyon conforms the radiation beam to the exact size and shape of the tumor for precise targeting. Patients can complete a treatment session in as little as 10 minutes, minimizing the risk of patients moving.
“The speed and simplicity of Halcyon make it well-suited to handle the majority of cancer cases, including prostate, lung, breast, head and neck, and many other forms of cancer,” says Dr. Annette Kretzler of radiation oncology at Henry Ford Allegiance.
The system also has features to enhance patient safety. A wide couch moves through the machine for imaging and treatment, and a two-way intercom and couch-mounted camera allow the patient and therapist to communicate throughout the session. Treatment also can be paused, and automated preperformance checks take place daily.
The machine has a smooth and quiet motion and soft lighting designed to keep patients comfortable.
Henry Ford Allegiance Health is a 475-bed health system. Henry Ford Health System has six hospitals and is headquartered in Detroit.
Halcyon is a product from Varian, a California-based company that develops cancer care technologies.
