GPS for the Body is Here!

Diablo Valley Oncology at the California Cancer and Research Institute of Pleasant Hill is the first and only cancer treatment center in the East Bay offering cancer patients the breakthrough benefits of real-time tumor tracking during external beam radiation with the Calypso System. This highly advanced technology—also referred to as “GPS for the Body”—may lead to reduced side-effects by enabling physicians to more accurately deliver radiation to the tumor while minimizing exposure to the healthy tissue and organs surrounding the prostate.


The Calypso System, with its GPS for the Body technology, utilizes miniature implanted transponders (grain of rice size) to provide precise, continuous information on the location of the tumor during external beam radiation therapy. Any movement by the patient, including internal movement of the tumor, may cause the therapeutic radiation treatment to miss its intended target and hit adjacent healthy tissue. In contrast to ionizing tumor targeting methods which cannot track a target in real-time, the Calypso System provides real-time tumor position information, thereby allowing physicians to deliver radiation directly to the tumor while sparing surrounding healthy organs from radiation exposure. Currently the Calypso System is cleared by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for use in radiation therapy for the prostate and prostatic bed; however, the technology is designed for body-wide applications and studies are underway using it in other locations in the body.

“We are committed to providing our patients with state-of-the-art treatments that maintain or improve quality of life,” said Sachin Kamath, M.D., radiation oncologist and medical director at Diablo Valley Oncology Radiation Center. “Like many of the organs in our body, the prostate gland is constantly moving. With the precision targeting provided by the Calypso System, extremely accurate radiation can be delivered directly to the tumor while minimizing the risk of any harmful effects on normal tissues. By doing so, we are likely to reduce side-effects.”

In May, a clinical study published in Urology demonstrated that prostate cancer patients who were treated with radiation and monitored with the Calypso System reported significantly reduced side effects like diarrhea, urinary irritation, and erectile dysfunction than those whose radiation was not complemented by Calypso.

“Radiation therapy has been getting better and better throughout my career, but this really represents an additional improvement for patients getting radiation therapy today, even when compared to just a couple years ago,” says Dr. Kamath

MRI Up and Running

September 2010 we added magnetic resonance to our imaging department. The MRI system has a state-of-the art computer assisted detection system to diagnose breast cancers for high risk patients with family history of breast cancer. Adding MRI to the imaging capabilities of the California Care Imaging Center makes them leaders in providing full service ceancer imaging and detection services in Northern California.

Free Talk: Putting the Brakes on Bone Loss

Gigi Chen, MD - Diablo Valley Oncology/Hematology Medical Group specialist will give this education seminar designed to help maintain good health and awareness as we age. Osteopenia, osteoporosis and new treatment options available will be discussed. Come and learn more about bone mineral density testing and why it is important. Question and answer session to follow.
At the Stratford at Countrywood, 1545 Pleasant Hill Road, Lafayette, CA 94549
September 16th, 1-2pm, Refreshments served. No Charge
RSVP: 925-932-9910

Support our Relay for Life Team

Come on out on Saturday, August 14 to walk a lap or two at the Pleasant Hill Relay for Life, Pleasant Hill Middle School. Event begins with a big opening ceremony at 9am. Dr. Johl will speak, a survivor and others, then off the survivors go walking a lap to kick off this 24 hour event that raises money for cancer research and the American Cancer Society. Here is the schedule of events.....

9am Opening Ceremony RFL committee/survivor chair
9:30am Survivor's Lap Cancer Survivors
9:45am Parade of Teams teams walk together
9:30am-12 noon facepainting
10am Belly Dancer performance
10:45am exercise class UFC Gym
11:30am Musical Chairs Lap
12 noon Lunch Kinders and Smokin' Okies
12-1pm make sand art wax candles Miller Time
1-4pm Live Music DVC Band
4pm Crazy Hat lap
4:15pm Limbo Contest Miller Time
5pm Anything but walk lap
6pm Dinner Tahoe Joes
6-6:30 pm Live Music Hello Evening- Nisan Perera
9pm Luminaria Ceremony Luminaria Chair- Casey Mounday
11pm midnight snack pizza and coffee


Sunday
7am Pancake Breakfast Pleasant Hill Lions Club
7:30am Bed Head lap Theme lap
8am light breakfast bagels and coffee
8:30am Fight Back ceremony RFL committee/Fight Back Chair
9am Fight Back Lap everyone

DOCUMENT SHREDDING FUNDRAISER FOR CANCER

Saturday, August 7 from 9am - 11am. We are holding the first ANNUAL "document shredding fundraiser" in the parking lot of our building - the California Cancer & Research Institute - located at 400 Taylor Blvd in Pleasant Hill CA. Get your confidential documents shredded, donate to a cancer support group , and help our planet..... all at the same time. All proceeds to benefit the Wellness Community.
$20 for FIRST box, $5 for each additional box. (Standard record size storage/banker box) Come one - come all....tell your friends, family, and neighbors! For more information call 925-677-5041.

Volunteers Needed at Cancer Center

The California Cancer and Research Institute at 400 Taylor Blvd in Pleasant Hill is looking for volunteers of all ages (minimum 15) to staff a new Information Desk at their center. If you are interested, call Sam at 925-395-7630.

Find the Hero in you....donate blood

California Cancer and Research Institute and Diablo Valley Oncology/Hematology Medical Group are hosting their second blood drive this year. Open to everyone eligible to give blood. Tuesday, June 22, 2010 from 10am - 2pm Conference Room, 3rd Floor. Call Lora Sanders at 925-826-1904 to register.

What You Can Do To Prevent Cancer

Come listen to Diablo Valley Oncologist Gigi Chen, MD provide recommendations for cancer prevention, screening, and early detection. Dr. Chen will also highlight important exams, tests, and symptoms to be familiar with. This FREE community education event will be held at John Muir Outpatient Center, Tice Valley/Rossmoor Community Conference Room. 1220 Rossmoor Parkway, Walnut Creek. Reservations are required. Please call: (925)939-1220

Making Strides Inaugural Event - Walnut Creek June 19, 2010

Diablo Valley Oncology/Hematology Medical Group is flagship sponsor for first ever "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" , June 19 at Heather Farms Park in Walnut Creek. We have a big team of patients, employees, family and friends. Event raises money and awareness for the fight against breast cancer. No registration fee or minimum fundraising donation.
5 K non-competitive walk. Dogs on leases okay.

Local Breast Cancer Doctor Receives Award

Tiffany Svahn, MD with Diablo Valley Oncology/Hematology Medical Group in Pleasant Hill has been awarded the Patients' Choice Award for 2009, the second year in a row. More than 800,000 patient reviews and ratings were gathered, and this top rating is only awarded to a select few of the nation's most beloved doctors.

Patients rated Dr. Svahn in the following areas: bedside manner, the amount of time she spends with them, the courtesy of her staff, appropriate follow-up, and their overall opinion of her as a physician.

Quite simply, Dr. Svahn is one of the best!

Congratulations on perhaps the most important recognition a doctor can receive, the recognition of their patients with the Patients' Choice Award.

Patients’ Choice Award Goes to Local Breast Cancer Doctor

Tiffany Svahn, MD has been awarded the Patients' Choice Award for 2009, for a second year in a row. More than 800,000 patient reviews and ratings were gathered by the American Registry and this top rating is only awarded to a select few of the nation's most beloved doctors.
Patients rated Dr. Svahn in the following areas: bedside manner, the amount of time she spends with them, the courtesy of her staff, appropriate follow-up, and their overall opinion of her as a physician.
Dr. Svahn practices at Diablo Valley Oncology/Hematology Medical Group. She sees patients at the California Cancer and Research Institute in Pleasant Hill, CA and at a satellite office in San Ramon, CA. She specializes in breast cancer and is board certified in Medical Oncology. Join her team “Making Strides for Breast Cancer” - June 19, 2010 at Heather Farms, Walnut Creek.

Free Community Educational Event 5-7-2010

Breast Cancer Breakthroughs – A review of the latest therapies and treatments for breast cancer. This free and informative lecture will include a question and answer session. John Muir Outpatient Center, Tice Valley/Rossmoor – Conference RoomSpeaker: Matthew Sirott, M.D., May 7, 2010 at 11am. No charge, RSVP required call 925-939-1220

Free Community Educational Event 5-7-10

Breast Cancer Breakthroughs - A review of the latest therapies and treatments for breast cancer. This free and informative lecture will include a question and answer session. John Muir Outpatient Center, Tice Valley/Rossmoor - Conference Room
Speaker: Matthew Sirott, M.D., May 7, 2010 at 11am.
No charge, RSVP required call 925-939-1220

Patient Educational Seminars:Functional Foods & Supplements

Our registered nutritionist, Tinrin Chew RD CSO, has special training in the area of oncology nutrition. She will cover these topics:

-Not all Fats Are Equal
-Phytounutrients/Phytochemicals
-Phobiotics and Prebiotics.

Join us and learn practical tips on nutrition and supplements.

May 4, 11, 18. 6-7pm $50 for series, $20 per class.

Call 925-677-5041, extn 260 to register.

Diablo Valley Oncology First Cancer Center in Contra Costa County to Offer NEW Radiation Device

Advances in the world of radiation therapy have led to the development of a new procedure for the treatment of early stage breast cancer, non-melanoma skin cancers, and some gynecologic cancers.

Diablo Valley Oncology/Hematology Medical Group at the California Cancer and Research Institute is pleased to announce that they recently received state approval to be the only facility in Northern California to offer a new breakthrough radiation therapy for cancer patients.

Electronic Brachytherapy vs. Traditional Radiation
Diablo Valley Oncology’s new advanced Electronic Brachytherapy system is very different from conventional brachytherapy because instead of a radioactive source, the eBx system uses a miniaturized X-ray tube that is inserted directly into the tumor site. “This means that the source is not continually radioactive; it can be turned on and off as appropriate to deliver precisely localized, targeted radiation treatments which protect healthy tissues,” says Sachin Kamath, MD, Director of Radiation Oncology at the cancer center. “The fact it can be used to deliver radiation in minimally shielded therapeutic settings gives us a different way to administer therapy. Treatment can be performed without the need for a shielded room, allowing the radiation oncologist and other medical personnel to be present during treatment delivery and minimizing patient anxiety.”
“Electronic Brachytherapy allows us to focus the radiation ‘more tightly’ around the tumor target, compared to external beam radiotherapy or radioactive isotope-based brachytherapy systems,” says Dr. Kamath. Xoft eliminates the use of radioactive isotopes, resulting in less exposure to radiation, fewer side effects, and excellent outcomes for patients.
Shorter treatment, less radiation
One of the biggest benefits to Electronic Brachytherapy is that it requires fewer sessions than traditional radiation:
v Most women with early stage breast cancer who need radiation treatment undergo whole breast irradiation, which usually requires 6 to 7 weeks (30 to 35 treatment sessions). Some of these women are candidates for partial breast irradiation with Electronic Brachytherapy, which can be completed in 5 days.
v Non-melanoma skin cancers are often treated with 6 to 7 weeks of conventional external beam radiotherapy. With Electronic Brachytherapy, skin cancers can be treated in as little as 5 sessions.
v Some women with gynecologic cancers require radiation treatment after surgery. The treatment may involve a combination of external beam radiotherapy and/or brachytherapy. With Electronic Brachytherapy the treatment can generally be completed in less than 5 sessions.
"We are dedicated to bringing the best, most comprehensive and innovative cancer care to patients in the San Francisco Bay Area. We are so excited to introduce the Xoft Electronic Brachytherapy System as a possible treatment for early stage breast cancer, skin cancers, and some gynecologic cancers," said Dr. Kamath.
Diablo Valley Oncology encourages newly diagnosed patients with early stage breast cancer, skin cancers, and some gynecologic cancers to call to learn if this newer and safer form of radiation treatment is right for them. 925-677-5041 extn 260 or visit http://www.blogger.com/www.DiabloValleyOncology.md