Transforming Radiation Treatment

Northern LIGHTs Program

Radiation therapy plays an important role in cancer treatment.

It uses high energy waves to destroy cancerous cells and although it is effective, it can destroy healthy surrounding tissue and take several treatments over a long period of time. In this ever-evolving field, new radiation techniques have been developed thanks to leading-edge technology such as the Linac-MR. Merging the imaging abilities of an MRI system with the treatment capabilities of a Linear Accelerator, this made-in-Alberta machine will mean doctors can see and treat cancer with radiation using real-time MR imaging. By guiding and directing a radiation beam precisely at a tumour, the Linac-MR will allow treatment doses to be increased, the number of treatments required to be reduced, and cause significantly less damage to healthy tissues and organs. The Northern LIGHTs program is a collection of clinical trials that will first test, and then provide Albertans facing cancer with access to the Linac-MR to receive cutting-edge radiation therapy treatments.

Your investment will support this series of clinical trials that will use Linac-MR technology to improve cancer treatment and care for patients. This ground-breaking research will also translate knowledge that will benefit patients at the new Calgary Cancer Centre.