Treatments

Radiotherapy, also known as radiation therapy, uses focused, high-energy x-ray beams to destroy and damaged cancer cells by destroying the genetic material that controls cancer cells to grow and divide. Cancer cells begin to die days or weeks after treatment starts and continue to die for weeks or months after it finishes.

Among the benefits of Radiotherapy are:

1. Tumour Shrinkage and Control

Radiotherapy effectively reduces the size of tumours, controlling their growth and preventing further spread.

2. Remission and Curative Potential

Radiotherapy is applied with the goal of achieving a curative outcome, leading to remission by targeting and eliminating cancer cells.

3. Palliative Symptom Relief

Radiotherapy provides palliative care by relieving cancer-related symptoms, such as pain, bleeding, or obstruction, through targeted tumour reduction.

4. Enhancing Treatment Outcomes with Combined Therapies

Radiotherapy enhances the overall effectiveness of other treatments, such as surgery and chemotherapy, leading to improved outcomes.

Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells. It can be administered systemically (through the bloodstream) to target cancer cells throughout the body. Chemotherapy is used in various cancers, either as the primary treatment or in combination with other therapies, such as with surgery or radiotherapy.

Immunotherapy harnesses the body's immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells. It includes various approaches, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and adoptive cell therapies. Immunotherapy has shown promising results in treating a variety of cancers, including melanoma, lung cancer, and certain types of blood cancers.

Hormonal therapy interferes with the hormones that fuel the growth of certain types of cancers, such as breast and prostate cancers. Hormonal therapy is commonly used in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, prostate cancer, and other hormone-sensitive tumours.

Targeted therapy uses drugs that specifically target the molecular or genetic abnormalities that drive cancer growth. Targeted therapy is often used in cancers with specific genetic mutations, such as HER2-positive breast cancer or BRAF-mutant melanoma.

It is important to work closely with a healthcare professional to determine the best course of cancer treatment for your specific type of cancer.Often, a combination of treatments is used to achieve the best outcomes. Additionally, supportive care, including pain management, nutritional support, and psychosocial care, is an essential part of cancer treatment to address the overall well-being of the patient. Treatment decisions are typically made collaboratively between the patient and the healthcare team.