Nov 8, 2013
On 28 October 2013, Uruguay’s Pereira Rossell Hospital received an important addition to its cancer treatment apparatus at the Radiology Institute and Centre for the Fight against Cancer, which treats around 450 patients every year, presenting with all types of cancer. A new brachytherapy machine was purchased under an IAEA technical cooperation (TC) project, ‘Implementing Public Health High Dose Rate Brachytherapy’, in cooperation with the Faculty of Medicine and the Administration of the State Social Services (ASSE). The new machine will allow for more effective radiation treatment of cervical, prostate, breast and skin cancer, among other. Under the TC project, staff have also received comprehensive training in the proper use of brachytherapy to ensure the safe and effective treatment of patients with the new equipment.
The director of ASSE, Beatriz Silvia, explained that the new brachytherapy machine is intended for the treatment of gynaecological oncological pathologies, such as cervix cancer and endometrial cancer. However, she added that with a series of additional applicators this machine is able to perform a wide range of other radiotherapy treatments. She also emphasised that the benefit of this instrument is that the patient receives the necessary care with only one round of treatment.
Human health is the main area of technical cooperation between the IAEA and Uruguay. For the past 10 years, the IAEA, through its TC programme, has been working with oncology and nuclear medicine centres in the country to train staff and procure modern equipment in radiation oncology, nuclear medicine and tissues banking. The IAEA has also helped Uruguay to improve various clinical procedures to provide complete, efficient and evidence-based therapeutic responses.