Donation will bring new cancer treatment to north Utah County

AMERICAN FORK — A new form of cancer treatment will soon be available to residents of north Utah County thanks to a large donation to the Intermountain Cancer Center at American Fork Hospital.

The Ray and Tye Noorda Foundation recently donated $338,000 to the Cancer Center. The money will be used for the construction of a radiation vault room and purchase of equipment needed for High-dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy, which is used to treat prostate, breast and gynecological cancers. 

HDR Brachytherapy is a type of radiation therapy that allows doctors to deliver high doses of radiotherapy to small, specific areas of the body. It minimizes exposure to the surrounding healthy tissue compared to conventional radiotherapy that projects radiation from outside the body to larger treatment areas. Some benefits include a shorter overall treatment time and recovery period and fewer side effects. 

“HDR Brachytherapy is a cutting edge form of radiation therapy that allows treatment directly to the cancerous region. This reduces the chance of exposure to unaffected areas and organs,” said Brandon Barney, MD, a radiation oncologist at American Fork Hospital.

Until now, cancer patients in north Utah County have had to choose less effective forms of treatment or drive long distances to other hospitals in order to receive HDR Brachytherapy, said Dr. Barney. The Noorda Foundation grant will allow American Fork Hospital to construct a specialized room to contain the radiation used for treatment as well as purchase specialized equipment and accessories to house the radioactive material and assist in the placement of the therapy. Patients will begin receiving the treatment early this summer.