Karen Hall is treated with the MR-controlled linear accelerator.
The woman from Stockport, Greater Manchester, will be the first patient in the world to receive full cervical cancer treatment with state-of-the-art radiation therapy from the Christie NHS Foundation Trust.
Karen Hall, 57, is on the MR-Guided Linear Accelerator (MR-linac), which is the first of its kind to perform real-time MRI scans while X-rays are aimed at tumors, making them more accurate and reducing side effects.
Karen, who lives in Offerton, will be the first cervical cancer patient in the world to receive a full course of this type of radiation therapy using the Elekta Unity MR-Linac at the premier cancer center.
The customer service agent was diagnosed last month after seeing her GP with symptoms in December. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Karen was quickly referred to The Christie in Manchester for treatment.
Being able to target tumors more specifically and avoid healthier tissue around them means the device can make better use of targeting X-rays. The £ 5.3 million machine was partially funded by donations to The Christie charity.
Since opening the UK’s first high energy proton beam center in the UK in 2018, The Christie is now one of only two locations worldwide to offer these two groundbreaking radiation therapy treatments.
Karen is led by The Christie’s gynecological oncology team, led by Professor Peter Hoskin, Dr. Lisa Barraclough and Dr. Kate Haslett treats.
Professor Ananya Choudhury and Dr. Cynthia Eccles with the MR Linac.
Karen, who only married her 26 year old partner Dale in September 2020, said, “It was obviously a bit of a shock that happened so quickly, but I believe this treatment will give me a better quality of life and a minimum of side effects.
“It was a bit of a whirlwind, but considering that we are in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am very grateful that I was spotted and expelled so quickly. The care I received has been incredible. It’s also nice to know that my treatment will support vital research for cancer patients in the future. “
The MR-guided linear accelerator (MR-linac) combines magnetic resonance imaging (MR) and tumor-busting radiation therapy to provide magnetic resonance radiation therapy in one high-tech package.
Karen’s treatment is part of the MOMENTUM study, a worldwide radiation therapy study with the MR-Linac. The aim is to study a wide range of cancers to see which cancers respond best to treatment before hopefully rolling it out globally. The study is led by Dr. Cynthia Eccles and the MR-linac team at The Christie and supported by the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Center.
Professor Ananya Choudhury, Clinical Project Leader for MR-linac at The Christie, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be part of a world’s first treatment here at The Christie.
“The MR-Linac has already proven to be a valuable tool for radiation therapy for other types of cancer such as the prostate. It’s great to be able to expand its scope to other cancers so we can advance important research and improve patient outcomes.
“In this case, the MR-Linac is extremely adept at treating cervical cancer because the cervix is close to some very sensitive areas. High doses of radiation therapy can damage the tissues around it and increase the risk of side effects. With the MR-Linac we can better aim the cervix and avoid these areas so that we can safely deliver higher doses of radiation. “
