The Omid Charity Clinic began its therapeutic services with four chemotherapy beds. In 1997 (1376 in the Iranian calendar), with the launch of a Cobalt-60 unit, Omid took its first steps toward providing advanced cancer treatment.
Two years later, in 1999 (1378), a second radiotherapy machine was purchased and installed at the Omid Clinic. Both units operated using the two-dimensional (2D) radiotherapy technique.
Due to the rapid advancement of radiotherapy science and the accelerated development of advanced treatment technologies and equipment, in 2010 (1389), with the support of generous donors, Omid purchased a linear accelerator radiotherapy system from Siemens, Germany, and installed it at the Omid Clinic. With these three machines, Omid was regarded as the most advanced radiotherapy center in Northwest Iran until 2021 (1400).
In 2022 (1401), after one of these three machines became non-operational and another had significantly deteriorated, Omid was able to provide radiotherapy services at only half of its equipment capacity. This led to long waiting lists at the clinic and, in some cases, resulted in the loss of the golden window of opportunity for timely treatment of cancerous tumors.
The “Ray of Hope” Campaign
With the support of donors and through a campaign titled “Ray of Hope”, the Omid Charity Association launched efforts to secure the funding needed to purchase the most advanced radiotherapy equipment. The goal of this campaign was to raise 100 billion tomans in charitable contributions.
With the purchase and installation of this machine—the full report of which can be found at the link below—along with another machine funded through the Foreign Currency Reserve Board, Omid once again became the most advanced center for cancer diagnosis and treatment in Northwest Iran.
List of Radiotherapy Equipment Available at Omid Hospital Clinic
- Two linear accelerator radiotherapy units, Elekta Synergy, manufactured in Sweden
- One linear accelerator radiotherapy unit, Siemens PRIMUS, manufactured in Germany
- One CT Simulator for tumor imaging and treatment planning, Siemens, Germany
- One Brachytherapy unit (internal radiotherapy) for intracavitary treatment, BEBIG Signova, manufactured in Germany
Advanced Treatment Methods Used at Omid Radiotherapy and Oncology Clinic
IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy)
IMRT is one of the most advanced radiotherapy techniques, in which radiation is delivered to the diseased area with exceptional precision by adjusting variables such as beam intensity, direction, shape, and timing. This method is used to treat malignant tumors in various parts of the body, including the lungs, prostate, breast, skin, and more.
Compared with conventional radiotherapy techniques such as three-dimensional radiotherapy, IMRT gives physicians significantly greater control and precision.
VMAT
In this technique, a highly precise and effective radiation dose is delivered to the tumor site. VMAT is used in the treatment of malignant tumors such as lung, prostate, and breast cancers. In this method, high-energy radiation beams are delivered in rotational arcs around the patient, and because of its exceptional accuracy, it minimizes damage to healthy surrounding tissues.
Note: The Halcyon system at the Omid Charity Clinic is equipped with the C-RAD system, which tracks the tumor as the patient breathes and ensures that no radiation is delivered to healthy tissues.
Stereotactic (SRS, SBRT)
SRS is used primarily in the treatment of brain cancers. This method employs a very high level of precision in order to protect healthy brain tissue from damage caused by high-energy radiation. If the tumor is located in an accessible position, SRS may be used as an alternative to surgery.
SBRT is also one of the newest radiotherapy techniques and is used to treat malignant tumors in other parts of the body, such as the lungs, liver, and kidneys. This method reduces the number of treatment sessions and therefore provides a stronger therapeutic response in the shortest possible time.
In addition to these advanced radiotherapy techniques, computer software such as Core Plan, along with fixation, molding, and related accessories, makes it possible to use CT scan and MRI images for reconstruction and three-dimensional treatment delivery. This increases the therapeutic effect of radiation on the tumor while reducing radiation damage to healthy tissues.
Advantages of Using Advanced Radiotherapy Equipment and Techniques at Omid Charity
- Reduction of radiotherapy sessions to 1 to 5 sessions
- High precision and accurate targeting
- Protection of adjacent healthy tissues
- Delivery of an adequate radiation dose to the target tissue
- Prevention of complications in patients who require repeat radiotherapy in areas that have previously been treated