NGMC Gainesville Offers Groundbreaking New Liver Cancer Treatment
Georgia Hospital Pioneers Revolutionary Liver Cancer Treatment with First-of-it’s-Kind Clinical Trial
GAINESVILLE, GA – Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville (NGMC Gainesville) has achieved a medical milestone, becoming the first healthcare facility worldwide to offer a groundbreaking clinical trial for liver cancer treatment.
The trial, called BOOMBOX, focuses on histotripsy, an innovative, non-invasive technique that utilizes high-intensity ultrasound waves to destroy cancerous tumors at a cellular level. NGMC Gainesville is one of only 25 sites globally, and the sole facility in Georgia, to offer this cutting-edge treatment.
Unlike customary methods like surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy, histotripsy avoids incisions, heat, or toxic chemicals. This approach has the potential to substantially reduce side effects and shorten recovery times between treatments, offering patients a less burdensome path to recovery.
“We’ve been using histotripsy for more than six months now, helping almost 50 people in their fight against cancer,” said Dr. Nelson Royall, a liver surgeon at NGMC who performed the first histotripsy procedure at the hospital. “Our team has fielded calls and emails from people in more than 20 states and several other countries who are interested in traveling to Gainesville for this revolutionary treatment option. This shows just how many people need help, and participating in the BOOMBOX clinical trial will hopefully improve and expand access to histotripsy over time.”
Dr. Terence Jackson,also with Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) Surgical Associates,is another of the few doctors worldwide trained to provide histotripsy.
“I’m thrilled to be part of this groundbreaking effort to advance non-invasive treatment options for our cancer patients,” Jackson said. “This trial is a unique opportunity to bring the most progressive care to patients who need it most, and I’m proud to play a role in shaping the future of medicine.”
Dr. Andrew Johnson, medical director of Oncology at NGMC and a medical oncologist with Longstreet Clinic, emphasized the meaning of NGMC’s achievement.
“The fact that NGMC became the first hospital in the world to enroll patients in this national clinical trial shows just how committed we are to helping patients beat cancer,” he said.“When you look at the select few hospitals providing histotripsy across the nation, our program is literally alongside the likes of Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, MD Anderson and Johns Hopkins – and we treat all ranges of cancer right here in georgia.”
Patients interested in learning more about histotripsy at NGMC and how to join the waitlist for evaluation can visit nghs.com/histotripsy. for information about eligibility for the clinical trial, call 678-943-3935.
A New Dawn for Liver Cancer Patients: NGMC Leads teh Charge with Revolutionary Histotripsy Treatment
NewsDirectory3.com Exclusive Interview
Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville (NGMC Gainesville) is making waves in the fight against liver cancer, pioneering a groundbreaking clinical trial using a revolutionary non-invasive technique called histotripsy. Dr. Nelson Royall,a liver surgeon at NGMC who performed the first histotripsy procedure at the hospital,shared insights into this possibly game-changing treatment.
NewsDirectory3.com: Dr. Royall, can you explain what makes histotripsy so unique?
dr. Royall: Unlike customary methods like surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy, histotripsy utilizes high-intensity ultrasound waves to precisely target and destroy cancerous tumors. This non-invasive approach avoids incisions, heat, or toxic chemicals, potentially leading to fewer side effects and shorter recovery times.
NewsDirectory3.com: NGMC Gainesville is one of only 25 sites globally to offer this treatment. What does this mean for Georgia and the wider medical community?
Dr. Royall: Being the first worldwide to enroll patients in this national clinical trial, the BOOMBOX trial, truly highlights NGMC’s commitment to bringing cutting-edge cancer care to our region. We’ve already helped almost 50 patients, and the interest has been remarkable, with inquiries pouring in from all over the U.S. and even internationally.
NewsDirectory3.com: What are your hopes for the future of histotripsy?
Dr. royall: My hope is that the BOOMBOX trial will demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of histotripsy,paving the way for wider access to this potentially life-changing treatment for liver cancer patients.
NewsDirectory3.com: Thank you, Dr. Royall.
For more details about histotripsy at NGMC and the BOOMBOX clinical trial, visit nghs.com/histotripsy or call 678-943-3935.