Our thanks to River News for spotlighting the Tony Teramana Cancer Center’s new osteoarthritis radiation therapy service line. Here’s a sample from their coverage, along with a link to the full story:
Trinity Health System’s Tony Teramana Cancer Center is rolling out a new line of radiation therapy that’s set to change the way chronic osteoarthritis is treated in the Ohio Valley.
The service, which uses low-dose radiation to alleviate pain in patients who have not responded to conventional therapies, is already common in parts of Europe, especially Germany — and now, it’s making its mark in the United States.
“This is a treatment that’s been widely used overseas for years, but we’re now seeing growing acceptance here in the U.S.,” said Dr. Mark Trombetta, Medical Director of Radiation Oncology at Trinity. “It’s particularly effective for patients who haven’t found relief through injections, medications, or surgery.”
The therapy involves six low-dose radiation treatments, each lasting about five minutes, spread out over two weeks. It’s designed for patients ages 50 and older suffering from chronic joint pain — particularly in the knees or hands — who have exhausted other options. According to Dr. Trombetta, approximately 70% of patients experience significant pain relief after undergoing the treatment.
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