The Torrance Memorial Medical Center radiation oncology team is leading the way in cancer care, using innovative technology to enhance the accuracy, effectiveness and efficiency of radiation therapy for patients throughout the South Bay.
“Radiation therapy is now a treatment option for most types of cancer,” says Andrew Schumacher, MD, medical director of radiation oncology at Torrance Memorial. “Our technology and expertise enable us to provide the most advanced radiation therapy right here at Torrance Memorial without needing to refer patients to another center.”
Enhanced precision improves treatment effectiveness
According to Dr. Schumacher, the ExacTrac Dynamic system is one piece of technology that enables the team to offer this level of care. Working with the hospital’s TrueBeam linear accelerator system, ExacTrac Dynamic uses a specially equipped camera to monitor patient movement during radiation treatment. The system projects a complex light pattern onto the patient’s skin; even slight movements by the patient change its reflection and automatically stop the treatment.
ExacTrac Dynamic uses real-time X-ray imaging to track patient positioning, even during treatment, to help prevent misalignment and ensure precise care.
Torrance Memorial has been using ExacTrac X-ray imaging technology for years but is among an elite group of hospitals in Southern California that have implemented the latest ExacTrac Dynamic system.
“If there are any changes to the patient’s position, we can stop treatment and make adjustments,” says Dr. Schumacher. “This improves safety when we treat lung and liver tumors, as well as other tumors close to important structures, such as left-sided breast cancer that is close to the heart.”
“With ExacTrac Dynamic, we have new confidence and precision allowing us to use more effective radiation doses to treat tumors in areas of the body that move—such as the lungs—with nearly the same accuracy as parts of the body that remain still,” says Thyra Endicott, MD, radiation oncologist at Torrance Memorial Medical Center. “We can improve the chances of getting rid of the tumor and improve treatment efficiency with a lower risk of side effects because we are reducing radiation exposure to healthy surrounding tissue.”
AI imaging analysis promotes increased safety
The team has also expanded its artificial intelligence (AI) software programs that use algorithms to develop patient treatment plans and position patients accurately for each treatment. One program matches pretreatment planning images with images taken during treatment to ensure the patient is in the correct position on the treatment table.
“In about two seconds, the system uses images taken during treatment to tell us how a patient should be positioned, how they are currently positioned and how to move them into the correct position,” says Dr. Endicott. “We can image a patient multiple times during treatment, which improves safety and efficiency. The accuracy of patient positioning is now within 0.5 mm.”
Dr. Schumacher says this AI technology is especially beneficial during radiosurgery for spinal and brain tumors. “When treating tumors in the spine or brain close to important nerves and structures with high-dose radiation, a few millimeters of accuracy can make the difference between successful treatment and potential damage. Our AI technology uses X-ray imaging to make sure the bones and other structures are exactly aligned throughout the treatment session.”
Ushering in the future of radiation oncology care
The hospital plans to acquire a Halcyon/Ethos linear accelerator to further expand the department's capabilities, providing enhanced access to leading-edge radiation therapy treatment.
“The Halcyon/Ethos unit can treat two times the number of patients as our current TrueBeam linear accelerators with the same level of accuracy,” says Dr. Schumacher. “That means more patients will have access to the most advanced radiation therapy care.”
Dr. Endicott says the Halcyon/Ethos system incorporates rapid image processing, enhanced image quality and faster treatment delivery into one system. Further, the system enhances energy efficiency by delivering the same radiation dose while using one-fourth less energy than the hospital’s current systems.
“We treat patients 10 to 12 hours a day, from 7 a.m. to sometimes 7 or 8 p.m.,” says Dr. Endicott. “The Halcyon system will allow us to treat more patients each day, have more flexibility to provide emergency treatment when needed, and improve availability, scheduling and convenience for our patients.”
The Halcyon will also allow radiation oncologists to more efficiently deliver “adaptive radiotherapy”—a technique that allows for adjustments in the patient’s treatment plan to reflect changes in the tumor’s size or position. “For prostate cancer, it will allow us to change the dose pattern based on the position of the prostate, which reduces radiation exposure to nearby organs and reduces the risk of side effects.”
Combining advanced technology with compassionate care
Dr. Schumacher and Dr. Endicott agree that Torrance Memorial offers a best-in-class radiation therapy experience combining the latest techniques and technology with compassionate care delivered by an expert team, close to home.
“Our radiation oncologists participate in Tumor Board meetings with medical oncologists, surgical oncologists and other medical experts to provide coordinated, comprehensive and collaborative cancer care,” says Dr. Schumacher. “We also offer some of the most advanced clinical trials in partnership with Cedars-Sinai—which means patients don’t have to leave the South Bay to get the advanced treatment they need.”
Meditation Enhances Radiation Therapy
Gardena resident used breath work and mental focus strategies during radiation treatment for lung cancer.
From left: Radiation therapist Aileen Gonzalez, Thyra Endicott, MD, Frances Nakamura and radiation therapist Benny Lopez.
As part of her Buddhist religious traditions, Frances Nakamura, 87, has been chanting mantras since childhood. When Nakamura was diagnosed with lung cancer in October 2024, the mental focus and breath work techniques she learned through her lifelong practice of religious meditation helped her successfully complete her radiation therapy sessions at Torrance Memorial Medical Center. “Because I already knew how to time and control my breathing, my radiation treatment was a piece of cake,” she says.
According to Thyra Endicott, MD, radiation oncologist at Torrance Memorial Medical Center, a 30-second breath hold during radiation therapy for lung cancer improves treatment efficiency, safety and effectiveness.
“Our technology allows us to monitor patients precisely and stop treatment immediately if a patient moves. This helps us ensure that radiation is safely delivered only to a lung tumor and not to healthy lung tissue or nearby organs,” Dr. Endicott says. “Even better, when a patient is able to easily hold their breath like Frances, we can radiate a smaller volume, sometimes to a higher radiation dose, and deliver more effective treatment while lowering the risk of side effects.”
According to Dr. Endicott, Nakamura didn’t move a millimeter—and she completed her five-session treatment regimen with outstanding results. The key, Nakamura says, is focusing your mind on something else. “Repeating any type of mantra—even ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’ or ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game’—will take your mind off holding your breath. Anyone can do it.”
Now that she has completed lung cancer treatment, Nakamura will need routine imaging scans. But the Gardena resident says she is grateful to receive all her care in one convenient South Bay location.
“In the Los Angeles area, there are lots of choices for health care,” she says, “but Torrance Memorial is the best.”
