Skip to Content

Published on March 11, 2011

New, Higher Standards in Cancer Treatment are Met Using Device Funded by May Mitchell Royal Foundation

Radiation therapy provided by MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland is delivered precisely to cancerous areas, sparing healthy tissue and structures. A new device designed to further verify alignment of radiation beams and meet new higher standards in quality assurance is now in use for radiation therapy at MidMichigan.

The May Mitchell Royal Foundation has provided $15,000 toward the purchase of a new IC Profiler used by the Medical Center’s Radiation Oncology Department during radiation therapy for cancer treatment.
 
Radiation therapy targets tumors and destroys cancer cells with high energy X-rays while sparing surrounding normal tissue. The IC Profiler equips physicists to scrutinize therapeutic radiation doses and treatment machine precision. With the Profiler, physicists further verify and document the critical radiation parameters and ensure the safety of patients receiving radiation therapy.

It is part of MidMichigan’s quality assurance program, which achieves standards higher than the established national standards of accuracy in radiation and exceeds new requirements.

“The May Mitchell Royal Foundation has been supportive of MidMichigan’s quality initiatives in the past,” said Joan Herbert, Pharm. D., director of Oncology Services. “By helping to fund the IC Profiler, the Foundation has helped us continue to offer the newest and best possible accuracy for patients receiving radiation therapy,” she added. The Medical Center provides approximately 5,500 radiation therapy treatments per year for patients from throughout the region who are receiving cancer treatment.

In addition to this most recent grant, previous gifts from the May Mitchell Royal Foundation have supported equipment for MidMichigan’s Cardiovascular Services, Center for Women’s Health and Laboratory Department, among other needs.

To learn more about philanthropy at MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland visit www.midmichigan.org/donations or contact the Medical Center’s Fund Development Department at (989) 839-3342.