New technology helping Martinsville Memorial Hospital provide better cancer care

MARTINSVILLE (WSLS 10) - Martinsville Memorial Hospital can now better treat cancer patients.

The hospital has a new, roughly $3 million linear accelerator, which is used to provide radiation therapy to cancer patients.

The hospital has been working with its parent company for almost two years to have the new machine installed.

It replaces the old one, which had been there since 2000.

The new accelerator will make the therapy more effective and more convenient by providing cutting edge care without patients having to travel out of the area.

"Hopefully will eliminate the amount of time the patients have to stay on the table and will also allow us to be able to guarantee better accuracy of radiation therapy," said Oncology Director Michael Compton.

Radiation Oncologist Dr. Nigel Goodchild said having had a chance to use the linear accelerator with patients, one of his favorite aspects is the quality of images it produces.

"The new machine has got exquisite imaging," said Goodchild. "With the previous machine, it was much more difficult to be sure you were on the right spot."

On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., the hospital will hold an open house to showcase the accelerator.