Customizing Cancer Care: Physics Innovation in Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy treatment is a cornerstone of cancer care, with over half of all cancer treatments including radiation to treat cancer. The overarching goal of radiotherapy treatment is to direct radiation at the cancer cells and avoid healthy tissues. Generally, radiation therapy is delivered as external beam radiotherapy (directing the radiation from the outside, in towards the tumour), or brachytherapy (radioactive seeds implanted within the tumour to irradiate from the inside, outwards). Recent technology innovations, including artificial intelligence, automation, and 3D printing, have led to improved patient care. Over the past 20 years, the radiation therapy technology has significantly improved leading to higher cancer control rates. This talk will describe a brief history of radiotherapy technology development and present ongoing technology integration at BC Cancer Kelowna to further improve patient outcomes.