What is Halcyon?
Halcyon, developed by Varian, is designed around the patient: it streamlines every step of radiotherapy to improve precision, shorten treatment and make the experience more comfortable. Its wide, quiet bore helps reduce the anxiety and claustrophobia some people feel with older machines.
Key features
- Built-in imaging that confirms the tumour's position before each session
- A wide 100 cm bore and very quiet operation for comfort
- Automatic, continuous checking of your position during treatment
- A streamlined workflow that delivers complex plans quickly
What it treats
Halcyon treats many cancers — including prostate, breast, lung, head-and-neck, gynaecological, brain and colorectal cancers — using image-guided IMRT and VMAT to shape the dose around the tumour and spare nearby organs.
What to expect
You are positioned comfortably and a quick (around 15-second) image confirms the target before treatment. The machine then rotates quietly around you, delivering the beams — the radiation itself typically lasts only about two minutes. The procedure is completely painless, much like having an X-ray.
Good to know
Its precision reduces but does not remove side effects; mild fatigue or skin redness can occur and are usually temporary. Rest well, eat a balanced diet, protect treated skin from the sun, and keep your follow-up appointments so your team can monitor progress.
