New Technology Helps Make Radiation Treatment More Precise at Westmed

When patients are facing cancer treatment, they deserve compassionate care and the confidence that they are receiving the most advanced treatment available. At Summit Health’s Westmed Medical Group in Rye, NY, our Radiation Oncology team is at the forefront of radiation technology, using innovative tools to deliver precise, personalized care while making treatment as efficient and comfortable as possible.

In July 2026, the team became the first site in the world to go live with the Accuray Stellar™ system. This advanced radiation system gives the team new ways to see, track and treat tumors.

The team is also now using VitalHold® from C-RAD, a surface guidance technology that uses cameras and sensors to monitor a patient’s position and breathing during radiation treatment. It helps the care team make sure the patient stays in the right position and that radiation is delivered to the intended area, even as the patient breathes and moves.

Together, these technologies are helping advance radiation cancer care.

A Clearer View During Treatment

Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells. The goal is to deliver radiation to the tumor while limiting the amount that reaches healthy tissue.

The Stellar system provides advanced imaging, precise radiation delivery and intelligent treatment capabilities. It generates clearer imaging before treatment. This helps the radiation team see the treatment area and make sure the patient is in the right position.

The system can also track certain tumors as they move during treatment.

“One of the most important advances with this technology is our ability to track the tumor during treatment,” says Niti Dube, MD, Chair of Radiation Oncology at Summit Health’s Westmed Medical Group. “When we can see where the tumor is and how it is moving, we can be more precise about where we deliver the radiation and better protect the healthy tissue around it.”

A Faster, Easier Treatment Experience

The new system can also deliver radiation treatments faster. For some cancer patients, the actual radiation treatment can take under 2 minutes, compared with several minutes with older technology.

“That may not sound like a big difference, but it can make a real difference in the patient experience,” Dr. Dube says. “When we can tell a patient that their time spent in the department is 20-30 minutes, that can make the process feel much easier, especially for someone who needs to come in for treatment daily for several weeks.”

The new system is also quieter, which makes the experience more comfortable for patients. 

Seeing Changes During Treatment

Cancer does not always stay the same during treatment. A tumor may shrink during the course of treatment as it responds to radiation. 

The new imaging and tracking tools can help the care team see these changes more clearly. Dr. Dube explains that this can be especially important for patients who receive radiation over several weeks.

“Let’s say we have a patient with lung cancer who is receiving radiation for six weeks,” she says. “Instead of waiting until we reach a predetermined point in treatment and then deciding to make a new plan, we can see what is happening in real time. If we see that the tumor has already shrunk after two weeks, we can create a new plan for the patient with a smaller treatment volume.

That ability to respond to changes can help protect healthy tissue.

“As the tumor gets smaller, there may be healthy tissue that is now in the target area that does not need to receive radiation,” Dr. Dube says. “Being able to see those changes can help us focus the treatment more closely on the tumor and avoid exposing normal tissue when it is not necessary.”

Taking Breathing into Account

Some tumors move as a person breathes. This can make treatment more challenging.

VitalHold® from C-RAD helps the care team monitor a patient’s position and movement during treatment. It can also account for breathing in real time.

“Breathing can cause the tumor to move during the treatment, and when we are treating a tumor, we want to know exactly where that tumor is,” Dr. Dube says. “With this technology, we can monitor the patient’s position and breathing as we deliver treatment. That gives us another way to make sure we are treating the target as accurately as possible.”

Keeping Cancer Care Moving Forward

For patients, new technology can provide another layer of precision and confidence throughout treatment.

“Ultimately, this technology gives us more information and makes the process more efficient,” Dr. Dube says. “I think it should give patients confidence that here at Summit Health’s Westmed Medical Group we use the latest tools and techniques to provide the most advanced radiation treatment available.”

The goal of radiation therapy remains the same: to treat cancer effectively while protecting healthy tissue whenever possible.

At Summit Health’s Westmed Medical Group, the Radiation Oncology team is continuing to invest in advanced technology to support that goal and provide patients with precise, personalized cancer care.

Learn More

Every patient’s treatment plan is different. Your radiation oncology team will determine which treatments and technologies are right for you.

To learn more about radiation oncology at Summit Health’s Westmed Medical Group in Rye, NY, please make an appointment with your physician or call 914-848-8950.