All articles tagged with #radiotherapy
Niven Whatley, co-founder of Ailsa’s Aim, donated about 100 skincare products to radiotherapy patients at Northampton General Hospital to ease treatment-related skin irritation and relieve financial pressure, as part of a trial to assess patient needs and how the products can be used alongside hospital prescriptions.
Imperial College London researchers found minimally invasive focal therapy for localized prostate cancer offers cancer control comparable to radiotherapy or prostatectomy, with about a five-fold reduction in severe side effects like urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and rectal issues. A decade on, only two of nearly 3,500 patients died from prostate cancer after focal therapy. The UK government is funding expansion of focal therapy, with about 15,000 annual cases eligible but only around 1,000 treated currently; Clarkson and Lord Cameron are among public figures who have used the treatment.
NHS England will offer SABR, a high-precision radiotherapy, to low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients, cutting treatment from about 20 sessions to five and aiming to reduce side effects and speed recovery; around 17,500 men are in this risk group annually, with an estimated 3,500 likely to take up the option, and rollout across 48 radiotherapy centres is expected within weeks as trials continue for high-risk patients.
A European study of about 1,500 women who had mastectomy with reconstruction and radiotherapy found polyurethane-coated implants significantly lowered the risk of capsular contracture and the need for secondary surgery compared with standard implants over 2.5–3 years, suggesting implant choice can influence post-radiotherapy complications and guide reconstruction planning.
Best-selling author Colleen Hoover revealed she’s undergoing cancer treatment after saying her surgery was successful and radiotherapy is nearing completion, sharing updates on Instagram while continuing to promote her new novel Woman Down.
A study published in Nature highlights that prostate cancer treatments have different sexual health impacts on gay men, with radiotherapy potentially better for those who prefer topping and surgery possibly better for bottoming, emphasizing the need for personalized treatment considerations.
A South Korean study suggests that radiotherapy for breast cancer may offer short-term protection against Alzheimer's disease, with an 8% reduced risk observed in survivors, though the effect appears to diminish over time. The findings highlight potential biological mechanisms and the need for further long-term research.
Researchers at the University of Manchester and The Christie cancer hospital have received a £5.9m grant from Cancer Research UK to use AI for simulating cancer patient trials. This project aims to improve radiotherapy treatments by testing them on virtual patients created from real-life data, making research faster, safer, and less costly than traditional clinical trials. The initiative will focus on patient-specific genetics and compare new proton beam therapy with standard radiotherapy for lung cancer. The funding supports Manchester as one of seven UK centers of excellence in radiotherapy research.
Patrick Magee, a renal cancer patient from Northern Ireland, has become the first person on the island to receive a specialized radiotherapy treatment called stereotactic radiotherapy (SABR) at the cancer clinic in Belfast's City Hospital. This innovative treatment, supervised by Dr. Aidan Cole, targets the tumor with more precision than conventional radiotherapy, offering a curative option for patients who are not suitable for surgery. The treatment aims to provide maximal control and cure for many years to come, revolutionizing the outlook for cancer patients in Northern Ireland and offering hope to previously untreatable cases.
Results from a phase III clinical trial suggest that dysphagia-optimized intensity-modulated radiotherapy (DO-IMRT) could become the new gold standard for treating head and neck cancer patients. The trial compared DO-IMRT with standard intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and found that DO-IMRT reduced the risk of swallowing difficulties without compromising treatment success. After two years, patients treated with DO-IMRT reported better swallowing function and higher normalcy of diet compared to those treated with IMRT. The tailored approach of DO-IMRT involves reducing radiation to the muscles involved in swallowing, which can help minimize side effects and improve patients' quality of life.
Researchers at the University of Surrey have developed new flexible X-ray detectors made of organic semiconductors that could revolutionize cancer treatment and improve airport scanners. These detectors are cheaper, more accurate, and can be shaped around the objects being scanned. The new material behaves more like human tissue under X-rays, allowing for safer techniques in administering radiotherapy, mammography, and radiography. The technology shows promise for various applications, including medical imaging and security scanners.
A new study presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology conference has revealed that using a short course of induction chemotherapy prior to standard chemoradiation treatment can reduce the risk of death from cervical cancer by 35%. The trial involved 500 patients with cervical cancer, and after five years, 80% of those who received the new treatment were alive and 73% had not experienced a recurrence or spread of the cancer. The findings are being hailed as the most significant breakthrough in treating cervical cancer in the past 20 years.
Scientists have made a major breakthrough in treating cervical cancer by using a course of existing, inexpensive drugs before radiotherapy treatment. The approach, which involved an intensive six-week course of chemotherapy followed by the standard treatment of radiotherapy, reduced the risk of death or cancer recurrence by 35%. The study, funded by Cancer Research UK, showed the biggest improvement in cervical cancer outcomes in over 20 years. The drugs used are cheap, accessible, and already approved for use, potentially making them a new standard of care. However, the treatment's effectiveness for women with more advanced disease is still uncertain, and side effects such as sickness, nausea, and hair loss can occur.
Scientists have made a significant breakthrough in cervical cancer treatment by conducting an international trial led by University College London. The trial found that administering a six-week course of chemotherapy before starting the standard chemoradiation treatment can reduce the risk of premature death from cervical cancer by 35%. This breakthrough could potentially save the lives of hundreds of women affected by the disease, which currently affects 3,200 women annually in the UK and causes 850 deaths each year.
A large trial conducted by the Royal Marsden NHS foundation trust and the Institute of Cancer Research in London has found that men undergoing treatment for prostate cancer can safely receive fewer radiotherapy sessions. The study revealed that five higher doses of radiotherapy are just as effective as 20 smaller doses delivered over several weeks, reducing the treatment time from four weeks to five days. After five years, 96% of the men who received the shorter course of treatment were cancer-free, compared to 95% who received the standard treatment. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with over 1.4 million cases diagnosed worldwide each year.