Radiation therapy is a regularly sought out treatment for aggressive cancers, alongside a combination of medications and chemical therapy. While chemical therapy (referred to as chemo or chemotherapy) utilizes anti-cancer medications to combat fast-growing cancer cells, radiation therapy uses a linear accelerator to target and minimize cancerous tumours.
Using radiation therapy in part with chemo and medication increased the likelihood of surviving 10 years from treatment from 54% to 64%, according to two studies from the New England Journal of Medicine in 1997. Although these numbers are promising, scientists, surgeons, and oncologists have developed a new method of radiation therapy.
Intraoperative radiation therapy (otherwise known as IORT) is a method of targeting cancerous tumours that are otherwise difficult to treat or remove in surgery. IORT is a surgical procedure that uses ionizing radiation at a high GY on an exposed tumour. This method is extremely effective as it provides weeks worth of radiation in a matter of minutes. This vigorous method is often practiced with conventional radiation therapy before a lumpectomy. As IORT is provided during lumpectomies (surgical removal of a discrete portion or "lump" of breast tissue, usually in the treatment of a malignant tumour or breast cancer), not every patient is viable for this treatment.
Albeit invasive, IORT is a short term treatment option that can save hours of commute for patients, primarily in rural settings. This form of radiation also preserves surrounding healthy tissue, which is otherwise compromised during lumpectomies for tumours that are more integrated with tissue and muscle.
The future of cancer is unclear, but the treatments being developed are promising. Intraoperative radiation therapy is a very effective method of cancer treatment if the patient is viable. IORT allows the patient to live without scheduling their life around exhausting therapies that last for weeks at a time.
often practiced with conventional radiation therapy before a lumpectomy. As IORT is provided during lumpectomies (surgical removal of a discrete portion or "lump" of breast tissue, usually in the treatment of a malignant tumour or breast cancer), not every patient is viable for this treatment.
Albeit invasive, IORT is a short term treatment option that can save hours of commute for patients, primarily in rural settings. This form of radiation also preserves surrounding healthy tissue, which is otherwise compromised during lumpectomies for tumours that are more integrated with tissue and muscle.
The future of cancer is unclear, but the treatments being developed are promising. Intraoperative radiation therapy is a very effective method of cancer treatment if the patient is viable. IORT allows the patient to live without scheduling their life around exhausting therapies that last for weeks at a time.
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