Cancer Treatment

Radiation therapy, also known as radiotherapy, is a cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to target and destroy cancer cells.

Types of radiation therapy provided by the Linear Accelerator (LINAC) - Elekta Versa HD machine include:

• Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT): IMRT uses radiation beams that are split into smaller beams of varying radiation intensity to deliver radiation doses across the tumour.
• Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT): IGRT uses frequent imaging during radiotherapy to improve the precision and accuracy of radiation delivery.
• Volumetric Arc Therapy (VMAT): Also known as Rapid Arc, VMAT uses a machine that constantly changes the shape and intensity of the beam while moving around the patient’s body to improve accuracy and reduce treatment time.

Find out more about the differences between these two cancer treatments: Chemotherapy vs Radiotherapy.

Chemotherapy is a cornerstone of cancer treatment, involving the use of powerful medications to target and destroy cancer cells. These medications, known as chemotherapy drugs or cytotoxic agents, work by disrupting the ability of cancer cells to grow and divide.

Chemotherapy is administered orally or intravenously (IV) and may be treated with one type of chemotherapy medicine or a combination of different types.

Chemotherapy treatment is often administered in multiple sessions, known as cycles, which are spaced out over a period of time. The specific schedule and duration of chemotherapy treatment depend on various factors, including the type of cancer, the stage of the disease, the chemotherapy drugs being used, and how the patient responds to treatment. 

Chemotherapy may be used with other treatments to:

• Reduce the size of a tumour before surgery or radiation therapy (neoadjuvant chemotherapy).
• Kill cancer cells that may still be present after surgery or radiation therapy (adjuvant chemotherapy).
• Increase the efficiency of other treatments.
• Kill cancer cells that have returned or spread to other parts of the body.

Find out more about the differences between these two cancer treatments: Chemotherapy vs Radiotherapy.

Surgery plays a crucial role in the management of cancer, serving multiple purposes throughout the treatment process. It is indeed one of the oldest and most established forms of cancer treatment, offering benefits in the diagnosis, staging, and treatment of various types of cancer.

In contrast to open surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) aims to perform surgery with minimal harm to the body by creating an access to the surgical site through the smallest incisions possible. Many cancers that required an open surgery in the past can now be treated with MIS.

MIS offers several benefits such as:

• Shorter hospital stay
• Faster recovery
• Better cosmesis
• Lesser pain
• Lesser blood loss
• Cost-effective

Hormone therapy, also known as endocrine therapy, involves the use of medications to either block or reduce the levels of hormones in the body. This treatment approach can effectively slow or halt the growth of cancer cells, particularly those that are hormone-sensitive.

Hormone-sensitive cancers include:

• Breast cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Womb cancer (uterine or endometrial cancer)

Hormone therapy can be used alongside other cancer treatments to:

• Reduce the size of a tumour prior to surgery or radiation therapy (neoadjuvant chemotherapy).
• Kill cancer cells that may still be present after surgery or radiation therapy (adjuvant chemotherapy).
• Kill cancer cells that have returned or spread to other parts of the body.

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. The immune system serves as the body’s natural defence mechanism against infections and diseases, comprising white blood cells, lymph nodes, and other lymphatic organs and tissues.

Immunotherapy is a type of biological therapy that utilises substances derived from living organisms to treat cancer.

Targeted therapy in cancer treatment focuses on proteins regulating the growth, division, and spread of cancer cells. This approach forms the basis of precision medicine. The majority of targeted therapies consist of either small-molecule drugs or monoclonal antibodies.