Upstate is one of only three institutions in the United States to offer the Vero, a 9-ton ring of sophisticated cancer weaponry that allows radiation oncologists to pinpoint tumors and deliver radiation with unprecedented precision.
Here’s how it works:
The patient lies on the treatment “couch.” After he or she is positioned, the Vero moves freely around the patient. With its unique pivoting head, the machine moves as necessary to provide unrestricted access to the tumor from nearly any angle.The advanced imaging technology built into the Vero shows a 3D view of tumors and organs. 
The technology allows tumors — even those that move or shrink — to be located, targeted and then treated in real time.
The Vero can be used for many types of tumors and may be used on tumors that have spread and for those that are hard to reach surgically. Once the tumor is identified, the Vero’s precise delivery of radiation is achieved through several beams at different angles and intensities — all directed at the tumor. This means that radiation is concentrated on the tumor and less so on surrounding healthy cells and tissues. The customized treatment provides hope for greater cure rates and fewer side effects.
The Vero is housed in a specially constructed space in the new Upstate Cancer Center. Its addition complements existing technology to provide greatest breadth of treatment options in the region.
Learn about the preview of the Upstate Cancer Center
Hear a radio interview about the cancer center
Read the new publication, Cancer Care
