Amethyst Radiotherapy Austria has been featured on Serbian news platform Lepa & Srećna, highlighting the centre’s advanced breast cancer treatments. These therapies effectively deliver high doses of radiation to malignant cells while preserving the surrounding healthy tissue—often making breast amputation unnecessary.

This is welcome news for women in Serbia, where 4,447 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year and nearly 1,700 people sadly lose their lives to the disease, according to the news source.

Importance of Early Detection

However, thanks to early detection practices and innovative forms of therapy (such as the radiotherapy delivered by Amethyst teams), prognosis for breast cancer has improved significantly and the disease is now considered to be well controlled.

With breast cancer, which is a common form of the disease, early detection is key and women are advised to undergo both regular examinations and carry out self-examinations so that changes in tissue can be caught and dealt with as early as possible.

Insights from Our Expert

Speaking to Lepa & Srecna, Amethyst radiation oncologist Dr David Kuczer explained how radiotherapy works, with high doses of radiation directed to cancer sites, damaging the DNA of diseased cells and disrupting blood flow to the tumour.

“Cancer cells whose DNA is irreparably damaged stop multiplying, die, and are then broken down by the body,” he said.

While this non-invasive way of working means that the entire breast won’t have to be removed, the goal is to eliminate all microscopic remnants of the tumour to prevent recurrence. 

Technological advancements mean that treatment times have been reduced to between five and 20 sessions over one to four weeks, with individual sessions lasting ten minutes. There is also no scarring and both heart and breast implant protection are assured during treatment.

Personalised Care, Every Step of the Way

Amethyst Radiotherapy Austria prides itself on providing personalised treatments tailored to the individual, with treatment plans tailored to address specific needs, helping to reduce uncertainty about the path ahead and alleviating any anxiety and concerns. 

To find out more, get in touch with the team today.

Much of the focus of cancer care and the treatment pathway tends to focus on what people should expect just before and during their treatment.

This allows them to prepare themselves, understand what they should expect from their treatment, what they should pack for any hospital stays, arrange for additional support and explore their options when it comes to continuing to work during the treatment period.

However, cancer care starts before the first day of treatment, and does not end after the last dose of radiotherapy or chemotherapy is completed. Both are huge adjustments and it is perfectly normal to feel a mixture of emotions once a course of treatment is completed and the cancer is destroyed or in remission.

With that in mind, here are some experiences you can expect at the end of your cancer treatment and what support is available to help you navigate a new chapter in your life.

It Is Normal To Feel Uncertain

A lot of people have reported that they feel somewhat uncertain if not lost following the end of their cancer treatment, and this is completely understandable.

Many cancer treatments take several months if not years from initial diagnosis to the final step of treatment, during which time you will have established a new routine and set of contacts within your cancer team as well as with your wider support network.

Once you get used to your treatment and how it feels, it can be odd to move on to the next stage of your life.

The first few months after treatment ends is a time of transition, and it is perfectly normal to not feel ready to move on, which is why it is best to look at the first few follow-up appointments as part of the treatment and keep in touch with your support network and your cancer team.

It Will Take Time To Recover

The end of cancer treatment is less of a sudden stop and more of a gradual slowdown, as there is a period of recovery following treatment that does take some time to get used to both physically and emotionally.

Your cancer team will let you know of the physical changes you may experience and what to expect from your recovery process. They will be there to provide support, refer you for additional treatment if required and provide advice on how best to manage your recovery.

Your support network that has been there during your treatment will also be there for your recovery as well. Unless they have also undergone cancer treatment or cared for someone who has, they may not realise what recovery and the end of treatment looks like and that you will still need support from them.

We believe that cancer care involves not only the primary treatment plan but everything else that helps improve physical health and mental well-being. This includes during the recovery process following treatment so there will always be professional support ready for you whenever you need it.

Follow-Ups Will Get Easier Over Time

Some cancer survivors have talked about “scanxiety” or a fear of tests following cancer treatment for fear that they might reveal that cancer has recurred.

This is a normal and common feeling, one that a cancer team will always be there to help with by providing facts, answering any questions you have and assuring you that they are always there to take care of you no matter what happens.

If you ever have a symptom that worries you, they will be there to provide advice about what you should expect and whether a particular sensation is a cause for further concern.

As you get used to how your body feels following treatment and with each passing follow-up appointment, that concern about recurrence will naturally reduce over time.

You Never Have To Suffer Alone

One of the most important aspects of the recovery process is that you should never have to feel like there is nobody you can talk to about your fears, concerns and frustrations. Beyond your support network and cancer team, there are a lot of services available, and the people who were there during treatment will be there for you now.

There are support groups, both in your local community and online who can provide support and a first-hand understanding of what it is like to go through cancer treatment, as well as therapists and counsellors who can help address any worries, anxiety or depression that has emerged.

There are a lot of services designed specifically for people going through the same or similar experiences to you, so you do not have to face this alone.

The development of radiotherapy and other cancer treatments has been a literal life-saver for millions of people down the years and may be even more so in the years ahead. However, a major question will be whether such developments will be sufficient to combat an expected rise in cancer incidences across Europe.

At any given time in history, some factors have played a larger role than others in causing cancer and also affecting the prospects for patients. Indeed, some factors have declined; better awareness of the dangers of smoking has led to fewer people using tobacco, while an understanding of the risks of sunburn is important in cutting skin cancer.

How Are Cancer Rates In Europe Expected To Change?

Despite this, the number of cancer cases is expected to increase in the years ahead. The European Cancer Information System (ECIS) produced a projection in 2022 that estimated the number of incidences of non-melanoma skin cancer would rise from 2.74 million to 3.25 million by 2040.

What was clear from the data was that ‘demographic change’ was expected to account for just about all of the increase, which would be definition rule out other factors such as a rebound in smoking rates, or new emerging lifestyle or pollution factors.

Part of that demographic change may be due to rising populations, although Europe’s low fertility rate means that the population would drop without immigration. However, another factor is age, because as people live longer, they become more prone to cancer.

Variations Between Countries

What was perhaps most notable was the high level of variation in the figures. The expected increase in cancer rates is 18.39 per cent across the 27 EU states. But this varies from a rise of just two per cent in Latvia to 56.8 in Luxembourg. Here in Austria, the projected figure is 23.1 per cent.

It may be asked whether variations in demographics can account for such disparities between countries. However, there could be some factors that have a significant impact.

For instance, when it comes to changing demographics, race can have a significant impact on cancer rates. For example, black men are much more likely to get prostate cancer than white men. By contrast, however, global studies indicate that black women have a lower incidence of breast cancer than white women.

This may mean that differing changes to the ethnic profiles of countries can have some impact on cancer rates. So too might variations in average age. However, it is notable that Italy, currently the oldest country in Europe, faces a projected increase in cancer rates close to the mean figure for the EU as a whole.

How New Developments In Radiotherapy Will Help

Whatever the cause of rising cancer rates, the challenge for oncologists and researchers in the field has always been to advance treatments. Radiotherapy has already come a long way since it was first used as a palliative treatment at the start of the 20^th century.

Some of the most recent developments offer real hope for patients, enabling our radiotherapy centre to offer patients cutting-edge treatments.

For example, the use of FLASH, a form of proton beam radiotherapy, has been made possible in recent years by the development of means of measuring and standardising the absorbed dose of radiation in such a procedure.

This breakthrough in the UK was followed by the first clinical trials in the American city of Cincinnati in 2020, with positive results emerging in 2023. Proton beam therapy is particularly effective in directing radiation at tumours while leaving surrounding tissue almost completely untouched.

In March this year, Cancer Network highlighted another development in radiation oncology, the realm of theranostics, a form of treatment that uses radioisotopes to image tumours for diagnostic purposes as well as treat them.

The article noted that in the United States, to date, just two of these therapies have been approved, for prostate and neuroendocrine tumours, but it is likely several more could follow for other conditions.

The Importance Of Artificial Intelligence

As well as new forms of treatment, the capacity to measure and calibrate radiation doses and predict the impact of these in terms of toxicity for patients (with the consequent side-effects) is another area that can be advanced, thanks to artificial intelligence.

This was the conclusion of a study published in Nature Briefing: Cancer, which discussed how machine learning could help use CT scans to better detect and quantify the likelihood for each breast cancer patient of developing pulmonary fibrosis, a potential downside of irradiation of the breast.

What all this indicates is that while the incidences of cancer are expected to rise across Europe (albeit at a very uneven rate), the last few years have seen a range of developments that mean radiotherapy is increasingly available in new and more effective forms.

Consequently, the prospect of radiotherapy producing ever better patient outcomes is very well founded.

Leading a New Era in Private Radiotherapy

At Amethyst Radiotherapy Austria, we believe every patient deserves not just precise and effective cancer treatment — but one that is delivered without delay, with compassion, and with respect for individual needs.

This commitment was recently highlighted in TREND Magazine, where Dr David Kuczer, Radiation Oncologist at our Vienna clinic, spoke about the power of private radiotherapy to transform lives.

“Every Day Matters” – Speed Can Save Lives

In the article, Dr Kuczer shared a compelling example of an elderly woman diagnosed with advanced brain metastases who contacted the clinic on Thursday. By Friday, her scans had been reviewed and a personalised treatment plan was ready. She began hippocampus-sparing radiotherapy the following Monday — a technique that helps preserve memory while treating the brain.

Dr Kuczer emphasised the urgency of the case, explaining that the metastases were dangerously close to blocking fluid flow in the brain: “A delay could have been fatal,” he said, underscoring his philosophy that “every day matters.”

What Sets Amethyst Austria Apart?

In the article, Dr Kuczer highlighted the following unique characteristics that set Amethyst Austria apart:

• Fast and personalised treatment: Dr Kuczer shares a case of a patient who received a full treatment plan and began hippocampus-sparing radiotherapy within four days of diagnosis.
• Access to cutting-edge technology: The centre is equipped with the Elekta Versa HD linear accelerator, enabling highly targeted therapy supported by advanced imaging.
• Multidisciplinary tumour board: All cases are discussed by a panel of specialists to ensure optimal, collaborative decision-making.
• Equity in private care: While Austria’s statutory insurance does not currently cover private radiotherapy, Dr Kuczer notes that affordability is a priority, with flexible options offered in hardship cases and referrals to public hospitals where appropriate.
• Challenges in public healthcare: Reflecting on his previous hospital roles, Dr Kuczer outlines the systemic strains facing the public sector — including staffing shortages and administrative barriers — which ultimately influenced his move to fully private practice.

Why Dr Kuczer Chose Private Practice

Having trained at Charité Berlin and worked in Austria’s public healthcare system, Dr Kuczer witnessed the increasing pressure: understaffing, treatment delays, and growing patient frustration. He transitioned into private care to offer something different.

“I wanted to build a place where people are treated not just for their disease — but as whole human beings. With urgency, dignity, and care.”

This vision is now embedded in the day-to-day practice at Amethyst Austria — where clinical precision is matched by speed, empathy, and a deeply personal approach to every case. Patients are no longer left waiting in fear; instead, they are met with timely action and a team that sees them as more than just a diagnosis.

📖 Read the full article in the May 2025 issue of TREND Magazine HERE.

At Amethyst Austria, we combine speed, precision, and compassion to deliver the highest standard of cancer care — without the wait. Contact us today to learn more or book a consultation.