Fox Chase Cancer Center at Buckingham
- Completion: Spring 2009

A State-of-the-Art Radiation Therapy Facility in Buckingham Township

Patients at Fox Chase Cancer Center at Buckingham will be able to take advantage of the latest advances in radiation therapy provided by some of the nation's most experienced doctors using state-of-the-art technologies.

The new facility, approximately 19 miles from the Center's main campus, will give Bucks County residents more convenient access to Fox Chase's nationally recognized cancer treatment regimens, along with access to innovative care, clinical trials and all the resources of an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center.

The Buckingham building itelf is an example of "green" design, bringing new, sustainable building technology into play as well as offering the following state-of-the-art technologies:

• The CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System: The world's first and only radiosurgery system designed to target tumors anywhere in the body with sub-millimeter accuracy. Using image-guidance technology and computer-controlled robotics, the CyberKnife system is designed to continuously track the tumor, detect its location, and correct for tumor and patient movement in real-time throughout the treatment.
• Trilogy Linear Accelerator with Rapid Arc: Optimized for delivering higher radiation doses to smaller areas over shorter time periods, the Trilogy system makes radiation therapy possible at earlier stages and for more types of cancer. The Rapid Arc technology, which creates a smoother and more highly shaped radiation treatment, allows delivery of a continuously modulated dose to the entire tumor while sparing normal, healthy tissue—providing superior treatment plans that are more time-efficient and comfortable for patients.
• LightSpeed RT 16 CT Simulator: Multi-slice CT is one of the most important tools for radiation treatment planning. With sub-millimeter slices and 16-slice coverage, the LightSpeed RT 16 CT Simulator enables rapid visualization of the smallest anatomic details for precise treatment planning, including complete definition of the tumor volume and geometric placement of radiation beams.
• Calypso 4D Localization System: Working like a GPS system for the body, Calypso is the world's first real-time tracking method available to locate and internally track prostate tumors during the delivery of radiation therapy—allowing for more precise and accurate radiation targeting. Before each treatment, Calypso finds the tiny electromagnetic sensors implanted in the prostate (called beacon transponders) and helps the technologist re-align the treatment plan.

In addition to state-of-the-art technology, patients at the Buckingham facility will have access to a team of Fox Chase specialists who will carefully plan and carry out each patient's course of radiation treatment. The team will include physicians specializing in radiation therapy (radiation oncologists), radiation therapists, medical dosimetrists, medical radiation physicists, oncology nurses, and a wide array of support staff.

The new 12,500-square-foot facility will not only offer patients first-class care but will also have a green-influenced, environmentally friendly decor. More and more architects, engineers, building owners, and contractors base their decisions on green-influenced factors such as indoor air quality, raw-material conservation, and energy and water efficiency. In addition, the Buckingham facility will offer such elements such as natural lighting, soothing settings, appealing decor, and comfortable waiting areas. There is ample free parking.

The Buckingham facility is part of the Heritage Center at Buckingham, located two miles south of Doylestown and two miles west of Buckingham Village on Route 263 (York Road) and easily accessible to communities in the Central Bucks County region via Routes 202, 611, 313 (Swamp Road), and 413.

For more information contact Frank Hoke,
215-728-2700 franklin.hoke@fccc.edu