OMAHA, Neb. -- A new type of radiation treatment for cancer patients improves clarity and precision, doctors said.

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Radiation Technique Helps Doctors

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Radiation Oncologist Dr. Joan Keit with Alegent Immanuel Hospital said tomotherapy is a groundbreaking radiation treatment.

"It's unique in both the way the radiation therapy is delivered and also in its image guidance -- in other words, how we target the tumor," Keit said. "It's the most exciting development that I'll probably see in my whole career in radiation."

Keit said tomotherapy uses a CT scan so that if someone's organ or tumor moves during treatment, doctors can see it and make adjustments. Tomotherapy also uses a higher concentration of beams.

"In radiation therapy, the more of the little beams we have, the sharper and more precise we can be with shaping our radiation around the target," Keit said.

Gary Runyan has been a tomotherapy patient.

"I had cancer 13 years ago and they removed a kidney," Runyan said.

Then, 13 months ago, doctors spotted another tumor surrounding his remaining kidney and decided to remove it surgically and begin radiation. Runyan's cancer is so close to his sole kidney that his doctors told him it was important the radiation doesn't hit or damage it. Tomotherapy made that possible.

Keit said there are fewer side effects, too, and since it resembles a CT scan, it feels familiar to many patients.

Immanuel's tomotherapy machine has treated about two dozen patients since it was put into use two months ago.