Cancer treatment radiotherapy

Amethyst Austria Announces New SunMed Partnership

Amethyst Radiotherapy Austria, one of the leading treatment centres in the world for primary and secondary cancers, is proud to announce a new alliance with SunMed Consulting to help improve patient access to high-quality medical solutions and clinics available.

Based in Vienna, SunMed is far more than a patient referral service. Rather, the entire patient journey is managed from start to finish to ensure high standards of continuous care to facilitate the most positive health outcomes possible on a case by case basis.

The system itself is professionally structured from appointment coordination and medical documentation to travel planning, clinic communication, treatment follow-ups and post-treatment support.

SunMed prides itself on building strong and reliable bridges between people seeking advanced medical care and the most eminent doctors in fields such as oncology, gynecology, in vitro fertilisation, urology, orthopaedics and aesthetic surgery, with patient-focused guidance and ongoing support delivered throughout.

To facilitate this, the organisation has built up an international network of trusted partners, doctors and clinics, fully committed to ethical values, transparency, medical excellence and, above all, patient safety, with all operations conducted in line with the highest standards of healthcare quality and confidentiality.

Commenting on the new partnership, Dr Paul Stuchetz, Amethyst Austria CEO said: “Radiotherapy is not just a treatment, but a journey. Our partnership with SunMed ensures international patients receive seamless coordination, allowing Amethyst clinicians to focus fully on delivering precision cancer care.”

Amethyst itself delivers comprehensive patient-centred care and high-quality treatments by cancer experts, fighting disease with the most innovative technology available and using the most advanced radiotherapy techniques.

All clinics are fully equipped with advanced medical linear accelerators, which make possible highly tailored radiotherapy dose distributions with maximum normal tissue sparing, putting patient care and wellbeing at the heart of all we do.

If you’d like to find out more about the cancer care and treatments we provide, contact the Amethyst Radiotherapy Austria team today.

Radiotherapy centre

Maja Zakarija: The Benefits Of Amethyst Vienna For International Patients

In this interview, we meet with Maja Zakarija, certified medical travel professional and Austria-accredited pharmaceutical representative, where she discusses the very real benefits of visiting the Amethyst Radiotherapy centre in Vienna for international cancer patients.

Ms Zakarija explains how there’s a common misconception among many people that treatment experiences are the same the world over – but this isn’t the case when it comes to radiotherapy and there are significant differences in how international protocols are applied in practice.

At Amethyst, we ensure that a personalised approach is applied to every case and you can benefit from a team of experts that both understand tumour biology and high-tech radiotherapy equipment.

This assures full analysis of every case, facilitating decisions as to the best possible approach for each individual. This is what can make all the difference to positive or negative health outcomes.

Watch the full interview –

 

External radiation - Old woman touching knee feeling pain

How Can Radiotherapy Help To Treat Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a condition that affects millions of people around Europe, especially older individuals and is the most common form of arthritis. Once seen as a consequence of wear and tear, it is now understood to be a disease that can affect any joint.

It is not a disease with one sole cause, but a combination of several factors. Some of these relate to lifestyle, but others do not. These include:

  • Genetic predisposition, as the condition can be heredatory
  • Gender, with women more susceptible
  • Existing musculoskeletal disorders

Are Osteoarthritis Cases Increasing?

According to the Global Burden of Disease Study, in 2020, there were 595 million osteoarthritis sufferers worldwide, equating to 7.6 per cent of the global population.

As the number of people living longer increases, cases are projected to increase significantly by 2050, with osteoarthritis of the knee, the most common form of the disease, set to increase by 74.9 per cent.

Age is not the only factor in the growing prevalence of osteoarthritis, with a high BMI contributing in a fifth of cases, indicating that more sedentary lifestyles in affluent parts of the world, such as Europe, have made the problem worse. In Central Europe, prevalence was up 57.3 per cent in 2020 compared with 1990.

The growing frequency with which people are suffering from osteoarthritis has motivated the research and development of new and enhanced methods of treating the condition. While many of these involve taking medication of various types, radiotherapy can also be effective.

How Does Radiation Treatment Reduce Pain And Inflammation?

This may come as a surprise to many, who would regard radiotherapy as something used against cancer, with those having some knowledge of its mechanisms understanding that the radiation delivered by such treatment is used to damage the DNA of tumour cells, causing cell death and the shrinkage of tumours.

Although this is indeed how radiotherapy works against tumours, it can bring different benefits when used to treat osteoarthritis.

The kind of radiotherapy given is low-dosage external radiation therapy, using beams that can pass through the skin into the affected joint (such as the knee or shoulder).

It works by using the same mechanism as radiotherapy used to treat cancer cells by triggering cell death. In this instance, the radiation causes apoptosis (controlled cell death) in inflammatory cells, which has the effect of reducing the capacity of the immune system to respond to the disease by generating inflammation.

How Does Radiotherapy Affect Cytokines?

Similarly, it also suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are proteins with the specific task of triggering and directing immune responses.

Some may be familiar with the term ‘cytokine storm’, where too many cytokines can lead to excessive inflammation and an overactive immune system. This is a common problem in autoimmune conditions.

In this case, the pro-inflammatory cytokine response to osteoarthritis is not excessive, but it does result in inflammation and chronic pain, which is why suppressing it is beneficial.

Moreover, the benefits extend further as the reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines is accompanied by an increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines, effectively reversing the normal immune response and reducing inflammation as a result.

What research has indicated is that low-dosage radiotherapy has had a beneficial effect for many patients in relieving the chronic pain of osteoarthritis. A particularly valuable benefit is that this has often been the case for patients who have not gained substantial relief from other treatments, such as physiotherapy or drugs.

As well as reducing pain, the benefits include greater mobility, which combine to provide the patient with a greater quality of life.

What Are The Side Effects Of Low-Dose Radiotherapy?

Radiotherapy is widely understood to bring side-effects for patients, and in the case of those facing very serious conditions such as cancer, this is a fact of life, with symptoms such as hair loss, skin soreness, tiredness, lack of libido and gastrointestinal issues all being commonly experienced during treatment.

However, because the dosage of radiation is significantly lower when it is being used to treat osteoarthritis, the side effects in this case are fewer and the treatment is usually safe. Among the side effects that commonly occur are nail problems and mild erythema.

The extent to which pain relief is experienced can vary and, as with any treatment, a central feature of our approach is to tailor it to your personal circumstances.

Wider health issues, age, weight, genetics, the presence of musculoskeletal issues and other factors will not only determine the likelihood of suffering osteoarthritis, but also the effectiveness of treatment and the approach that will need to be taken to provide the best possible results in each patient’s case.

Nonetheless, it remains the case that low-dosage radiation therapy is an effective tool in providing relief from osteoarthritis symptoms and may be used with increasing frequency in the years ahead, should projected increases in incidences of the disease prove accurate and no major breakthrough in other forms of treatment is forthcoming.

Radiotherapy centre - Ledderhose's disease on the bottom of a foot

How Can Radiotherapy Help Treat Ledderhose Disease?

When the word radiotherapy is mentioned, most people immediately think about treatment for people with advanced cancer, or possibly a benign tumour that needs shrinking. However, our radiotherapy centre can treat many other conditions that have nothing to do with cancer or tumours.

Among these is Ledderhose Disease, which is also known by its medical name, plantar fibromatosis.

You may be diagnosed with this condition if you report to your doctor with pain in the sole of your foot. The disease manifests in the form of lumps, or nodules, called plantar fibromas, that form on the plantar fascia, the layer of connective tissue that supports the arch of the foot.

Although benign and usually slow-growing, they can sometimes grow very quickly and cause great discomfort, not least because their location means the full weight of the patient’s body presses down on them with each step. This can make standing or walking difficult.

The condition is often associated with similar forms of fibromatosis, such as Dupuytren’s disease, which causes the digits of the hand to contract.

What Are The Causes Of Ledderhose Disease?

Causal factors can include liver disease, alcohol disorder, epilepsy, diabetes mellitus and trauma to the foot. Genetic factors, especially a family history of the condition, can play a part, while the condition is more likely to affect those who are male and middle-aged or elderly.

The condition is diagnosed by a physical examination to establish the possibility of the condition, followed by an MRI or ultrasound to confirm it. If the condition is confirmed, the treatment will depend on the severity of the condition.

How Can Ledderhose Disease Be Treated?

When the fibroids are small, it may be a manageable condition with the use of padded insoles to relieve pressure or physical therapy. However, this will be insufficient if the fibroids become large and while corticosteroid injections can be effective, this is where low-dose radiation therapy can be particularly effective.

The use of radiotherapy has the same essential function in this case as when it is used to treat other conditions, such as tumours.

In each instance, the radiation helps inhibit fibroblast activity and slows disease progression.

If you come to us for radiotherapy treatment for Ledderhose Disease, you may have some significant questions to ask:

  • How effective is the treatment in the near term?
  • What are the longer-term benefits?
  • Is it better than the alternatives?
  • Are there major side effects?

Studies have found that on all these counts, low-dose radiotherapy is an effective and positive option. Note that results vary between patients and suitability depends on individual assessment.

How Effective Is Radiotherapy For Ledderhose Disease?

For example, a survey by the University Medical Centre in Groningen, Netherlands, published in Radiotherapy and Oncology in 2022, revealed that the treatment produced effective results in most patients, with both short and long-term benefits.

Researchers had set out specifically to consider the longer-term impact, and the positive findings were an endorsement of the approach. The study was conducted by following up patients who had been treated at the medical centre between 2008 and 2017.

The findings were that patients had a comparable quality of life with the wider population, thanks to the effectiveness of the treatment, while those who had undergone radiotherapy did not suffer major side-effects, with mild erythema and dry skin the only commonly noted symptoms. This latter fact can be attributed to the lower dosage of radiation.

While this study does provide supportive evidence that this is an effective treatment option, further research and clinical judgment are still required. Evidence quality will vary across treatment options.

Referring to such treatments, which include extracorporeal shock wave therapy, cortisone injections, orthotics and modifications to shoes, the conclusions stated: “The level of scientific evidence for efficacy of these options varies.”

Is Radiotherapy For Ledderhose Disease Better Than Surgery?

This leaves one further option, which is surgery to remove the growths. This may be used if all else (including radiotherapy) proves ineffective, but it is a last resort.

The Groningen study conclusions said of this option: “Surgery might be an effective option, especially for severe cases, but it cannot prevent the recurrence and often leaves painful scars and other complications.”

What this indicates is that radiotherapy may be the most effective means of treating serious cases of Ledderhose Disease, providing the long-term benefits with low recurrence and no scarring. Any side effects are usually mild and temporary but can vary between individuals.

If you have this disease and have found other treatments to be ineffective or only partly effective, mild radiotherapy could prove to be the crucial medical intervention that can restore your mobility, minimise pain and enhance your quality of life.

radiotherapy centre austria - breast cancer awareness concept

When Should You Go Home Following International Cancer Care?

Travelling abroad for treatment is a major commitment to your health, as you get access to state-of-the-art equipment, elite specialists in the field of oncology and access to a wide range of multidisciplinary therapies and treatments not always available in your home country.

We know the importance of the entire care experience when treating cancer, so at our international radiotherapy centre in Vienna, we can provide assistance at every step of your treatment, from advice on securing necessary visas, arranging accommodation and providing continued support throughout your stay.

Part of the considerations will include the travel arrangements, both outbound to Austria and back home. The latter is of particular importance, as depending on the nature of your treatment plan, you may need to spend some time resting and recuperating before you are deemed fit to fly.

However, whether to begin the next stage of your recovery at home or to avoid taking too much time away from work, home and family commitments following a one-day treatment such as some stereotactic radiosurgery procedures, you may be asking when you should return home following the end of treatment.

The short answer is that you should return when your doctor agrees that you are fit to fly and you feel well enough to do so.

To explain why, it is important to understand how treatment may affect travel arrangements, how travel can affect your initial recovery, and what you should do if you are advised to remain in Vienna.

How Is Travel Affected By Cancer Treatment?

Travelling long distances can be stressful on the body, and flying in particular exerts several forces, changes in oxygen levels in the cabin and atmospheric pressures that are typically well-tolerated by the body but can cause issues following certain types of treatment or if you are feeling unwell.

In many cases, this will not affect your ability to fly, but in certain situations, caution may be advised in some cases.

These situations include following conventional surgery (but not stereotactic radiosurgery), if you have a lower red blood cell count, feel breathless or light headed climbing a flight of stairs or are immunocompromised and are at greater risk of catching an infectious disease,

Even if there are no serious risks to travel, if you are feeling particularly fatigued or in pain, a prolonged journey in a confined space could be more uncomfortable than it needs to be.

If you are concerned about return travel arrangements, discuss them with your cancer care team. They will be able to provide tailored advice regarding whether it is safe to travel and any precautions you may need to take.

How Does Radiotherapy Affect Travel Arrangements?

Unlike surgery or chemotherapy, which typically require a few weeks to recover before flying, radiotherapy can vary depending on your exact treatment and how you have been progressing with the early stages of your recovery.

In many cases, you can theoretically travel immediately after your final dose of radiotherapy, although for practical reasons such as existing travel itineraries and the time required for your cancer doctor to let the airline know that you are fit to fly and if you require any specific arrangements.

In some cases, you might be particularly sensitive, sore or fatigued after treatment, and so it might be recommended that you wait until you have fully recovered or feel well enough to travel. If you have waves of energy, it may be advised to arrange travel for a day when you feel more ready for it.

Both you and your cancer team will ultimately know when the time is right, and it will be one of several topics that will be discussed during the final treatment appointments.

What Should You Do If You Are Advised To Stay?

We will help and support you every step of the way, from arranging an extension to your accommodation, travel arrangements and follow-up appointments to check in on your health and make sure you are ready to go.

Other than contacting us if you feel your symptoms suddenly improve or get worse, try to enjoy your time in Vienna. Reducing stress is a key step towards your recovery, and taking the time to relax, enjoy the sights and sounds of the historic city and having a little holiday is all part of the process of treatment and recovery.

radiotherapy centre - Female Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Why Are Primary And Secondary Cancers Treated Differently?

Everyone who is diagnosed with cancer will often receive tailored, bespoke care, either in terms of the schedule of treatment they receive, whether they travel to another country to receive specialist care that may not be available in their country of residence, or if they need to look into more experimental treatments.

As a specialist radiotherapy centre, we understand that effective cancer care involves a wide, multidisciplinary approach that takes into account not only the primary specialist treatment, but also physical health, mental health, nutrition, occupational therapy and many other fields.

Everyone takes a different cancer care journey, not only because there are so many different types of cancers, but also because they can also affect the body in different ways.

One element that can have a major effect on cancer treatment is the stage and grade of the cancer, as well as whether it is a primary or secondary cancer.

To explain why this distinction is important for cancer treatment, it is important to briefly explain the difference between primary and secondary cancers.

How Do Primary And Secondary Cancers Differ?

Most cancers that are diagnosed are primary cancers, which are tumours, lesions or growths that develop in one part of the body and remain there until they are treated and destroyed.

In some cases, however, cancer cells can spread to another part of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. Sometimes these cells just travel and are broken down, but in other cases, they can develop and grow in a new location.

This is known as metastasis, and the cancer that develops from this is a secondary or metastatic cancer.

Many, if not most, types of cancer have the potential to metastasise if they progress for long enough, and one of the reasons why early detection of cancer can be so important is to avoid metastasis if at all possible.

A secondary cancer will be described and diagnosed based on its original location. For example, prostate cancer that has spread to the liver is not described as liver cancer but as prostate cancer that has spread to the liver or liver metastases.

Can You Have A Secondary Cancer Without A Primary Cancer?

Whilst in most cases a person will have both a primary and secondary cancer, there are some relatively rare cases where a secondary cancer tumour is found but a primary one is not.

In some cases, this is due to previous treatment that has destroyed the primary cancer, but some cells have escaped into the bloodstream, whilst in other cases, the original cancer is so small and harmless that it has escaped detection but led to the development of a secondary tumour.

It is possible that the metastatic cancer is found before the original tumour, and a major part of treatment in this case is determining the point of origin, as it can have a significant effect on treatment.

In the example above, prostate cancer that has spread to the liver is not the same as liver cancer, and would require a very different set of treatments.

Are Secondary Cancers The Same As Advanced Cancers?

Secondary cancers are also known as metastatic, Stage 4 or advanced cancers, and whilst there is a considerable amount of overlap, not all advanced cancers spread, and not all cancers that spread are necessarily advanced.

This distinction is important, as advanced cancers often require more complex, specialist and immediate treatment to control and remove before they stop responding to treatment, which can require some significant decisions to be made when it comes to where and how you receive care.

Several cancers that metastasise can be cured entirely, most notably testicular cancer, whilst others can still be controlled very well depending on where they are located and whether they respond well to treatment.

This is one reason why some oncologists will use a different or more nuanced staging and categorisation system than the traditional four stages.

Systems such as TNM (Tumour, Node, Metastasis) are preferred as they can provide more accurate information in more complex cases, such as smaller secondary cancers that can be easily treated.

Whilst the example of testicular cancer that spreads to a part of the body where it can be treated easily without any major complications would still be considered a Stage 4 cancer, the TNM system would focus on its size, appearance in the lymph nodes (a sign of spreading) and metastasis.

In any case, oncologists will carefully consider your particular situation, overall health and tumour placements before arranging any specialist treatment.

brustkrebs strahlentherapie (breast cancer radiotherapy) - pink badge on woman chest

What Should I Expect During Breast Cancer Radiotherapy?

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in women within the EU region and the picture is the same when you look at the prevalence of this form of cancer in Austria. It is estimated that one in 11 women in the EU will develop breast cancer before they reach the age of 74.

This means that it is reasonably likely that you will know someone who has received a breast cancer diagnosis, either in Austria or elsewhere in the EU.

Being diagnosed with breast cancer can be scary. However, it’s important to note that with the right treatment plan, you can beat breast cancer. In fact, the avoidable mortality rate for breast cancer in Austria is nine per cent below the EU average.

Avoidable mortality means deaths as a result of conditions that could be prevented or treated. Having a low avoidable mortality rate is therefore positive, because it shows more women are receiving the treatment they need to survive the disease.

What are the treatment options for breast cancer?

The most appropriate treatment for breast cancer will depend on the size and location of the tumour. For some women, this could mean having a lump surgically removed from the breast. This is called a lumpectomy.

For others, it could mean a full mastectomy, where one breast is fully removed, or a double mastectomy where both are removed.

You will need to undergo a detailed diagnostic procedure so that your medical team can fully understand the nature of your tumour and its precise location. Often tools such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) will be used to understand the characteristics of each patient’s cancer.

After breast cancer surgery, radiotherapy is often recommended to reduce the risk of the cancer returning and destroy any remaining cancer cells.

How does breast cancer radiotherapy work?

After you have had surgery, you will usually require breast cancer radiotherapy. Our team uses high-performance treatment planning software, based on data from your MRI and CT scans, as well as your other relevant medical information, to develop the most optimal treatment plan for you.

This treatment plan is completely personalised to your cancer and therefore you can feel confident that the radiotherapy will be targeted in the most efficient way to help you on the road to recovery.

In most cases, external beam radiation will be the most appropriate option for post-surgery treatment. This is a well-known and generally reliable form of radiotherapy that works by directing one or more beams of high-energy X-ray directly at your tumour.

These X-rays damage the structure of the cancer cells, which prevents them from multiplying. We use a medical linear accelerator, commonly known as a LINAC, during our radiotherapy treatments. This piece of equipment can rotate around you during your treatment, which enables us to direct the radiation at your tumour from different angles.

The main benefit of this approach is that it maximises the cancer cells’ exposure to the radiation, while minimising exposure for the healthy cells in the breast and surrounding tissue.

Although the precise number of radiotherapy sessions you’ll require will depend on your specific diagnosis, normally this treatment is administered over the course of multiple sessions that span several weeks.

These breaks in treatment are important as they give the healthy cells time to recover before you receive your next round of radiotherapy.

How can you tell if the radiotherapy is working?

We use a technique called in-vivo monitoring during your course of treatment. This tracks the precise dose and location of the radiation administered as your course of radiotherapy progresses.

As a result, we can adjust your treatment as needed, based on how the tumour responds to the radiotherapy.

How can I prepare for breast cancer radiotherapy?

Make sure you talk to the team at the radiotherapy clinic you’re visiting to understand what will happen during each round of treatment. When you have radiotherapy you will normally be asked to undress in the area that requires treatment.

During the session, you’ll need to stay still to allow the radiographers to precisely target the X-rays. Your radiographers will leave the room during your treatment but will speak to you throughout and may give you simple instructions.

The best way you can prepare for your treatment is to give yourself plenty of time to arrive for your sessions so that you feel as calm as possible. It’s also important to allow yourself to rest when you need to.

One of the most common side effects of radiotherapy is tiredness and weakness, so be kind to yourself and don’t try to do too much.

, , ,

Interview with Dr. David Kuczer — Fast Access to Advanced, Personalised Treatment

In this interview, our partner radiation oncologist Dr. David Kuczer speaks with Maja Zakarija—a Certified Medical Travel Professional and Austria-accredited Pharmaceutical Representative—about the biggest challenges international patients face when seeking cancer treatment abroad, and how Amethyst Radiotherapy Austria provides individualised, timely care tailored to each individual patient.

Dr. Kuczer also explains how modern radiotherapy is advancing cancer treatment: for selected indications, outcomes comparable to surgery can be achieved in 3–8 short sessions (~10 minutes each) over the course of approximately 1.5 weeks, without a scalpel or anaesthesia. Suitability is always assessed by our multidisciplinary team.

▶ Watch the full interview

radiotherapy centre - Patient Undergoes Rehabilitation

What Are The Best Gifts To Receive During Cancer Treatment?

Following a cancer diagnosis, there will inevitably be a lot of questions about treatment, all of which are important, but not all of which will necessarily relate to a person’s primary care.

Depending on the nature, location and stage of your cancer diagnosis, cancer treatment can vary in terms of completion time from a matter of weeks to months if not years. This means that it can often overlap with festive seasons, anniversaries, birthdays or other important milestones.

This is especially important if you are undergoing care at a specialist radiotherapy centre abroad, because the primary treatment needs to be balanced with as much normality, care and positivity as is possible.

Part of this is a matter of treatment outcomes; whilst research is uncertain about the effects of a positive attitude to cancer treatment, the effects of stress are more documented.

As well as this, your support network is there for you, and one of the biggest and most important ways to show this if they are unable to be at your bedside is through meaningful gifts.

With that in mind, here are some of the best, most practical and most considered presents you can receive during cancer treatment.

Soft, Comfortable Clothes

It is essential to feel as comfortable as possible whilst undergoing cancer treatment, particularly during the winter chill that often accompanies the festive season. This means that warm, breathable, soft fabrics make for perfect gifts that can be personalised.

Socks, slippers and scarves are always needed, but loose-fitting, soft clothing using natural materials such as cashmere is often needed, and full-zip hoodies can be ideal for keeping warm whilst also ensuring that they can be easily taken off for radiotherapy sessions.

Warm, Soft Throw Blanket

Combining warmth and comfort, a soft blanket is a regular companion for many people undergoing cancer treatment. It keeps their body warm and their mind filled with positivity, particularly if it is given to them as a gift from a loved one.

What makes it such an effective gift, besides its practicality, is the scope for personalisation. As long as it is made from a soft enough material to avoid skin irritation, it can be made in any colour and feature any design.

A particularly thoughtful option is a blanket in the colour of a cancer ribbon, or one with messages of hope and positivity to provide a reminder that so many people are in your corner to help you get the best outcome possible from your cancer care.

Audiobooks

Depending on your treatment, there may be points where you are waiting for treatment, waiting for results or are in the treatment room for extended stretches of time.

For those moments, as well as days when cancer fatigue hits harder than usual, it is important to have something easy, yet enjoyable, distracting and easy to pass the time.

One of the most popular options is a book; they are easy to pack, affordable, highly personal and make great gifts irrespective of the reason, but there are times when brain fog, tiredness and muscle fatigue can make reading a physical book less easy.

Instead, buying an audiobook as a digital present can be more practical, as they can put on some headphones and listen to it to pass the time, much like a playlist of music they like or a new album.

Sometimes it will be a particularly tailored choice, but in other cases, a book can be something that has personal significance that can show that they are thinking of you and want to help however they can.

Easy Entertainment

As well as this, board games and card games that are light enough to carry around and can be played without causing too much fatigue can also be really helpful.

Alternatively, a book of puzzles such as crosswords, wordsearches or sudoku can be a lovely gift, or if they prefer playing games on a mobile device, many platforms allow you to make gift purchases that they can redeem.

Ginger And Lemon Treats

Foods, drinks and snacks containing ginger are not gift ideas that typically come to mind, but they can make for remarkably thoughtful presents.

Ginger has historically been used to treat stomach upsets and relieve the effects of nausea, and whilst they obviously cannot replace anti-emetics that have been prescribed for you, they can help provide some relief if you struggle with regular sickness.

Similarly, lemon tea and lemon drops can help if you are suffering from dry mouth, as they encourage the production of saliva.

Radiotherapy Centre - Doctor consulting man patient with suspected prostate cancer

New Discovery Boosts Radiotherapy For Prostate Cancer

The use of radiotherapy for prostate cancer can be highly effective in preventing the disease from progressing, with a key aim being to prevent metastasis, the progression of a cancer from primary to secondary, at which point it can appear in other parts of the body.

However, even when metastasis takes place, radiotherapy can still have a major impact in slowing or preventing the spread of cancer.

We offer image-guided treatment using stereotactic radiotherapy delivered in five fractions with sub-millimetre precision.. This particular form of radiotherapy is designed to aim very precise beams of intense radiation at a small area from multiple angles, helping to provide maximum dosage to disrupt the cell DNA of the cancer while minimising exposure to healthy tissue nearby.

The Benefits Of Stereotactic Radiotherapy

A key difference between the use of stereotactic radiotherapy for prostate cancer and standard beam radiotherapy is that while the latter typically involves more than 20 sessions of treatment over four to six weeks, stereotactic radiotherapy is delivered in around five treatments (fractions) over one to two weeks.

This can be very convenient for anyone travelling to our radiotherapy centre in Vienna from a distance, but what matters most is that it is also very effective.

In addition, the use of stereotactic radiotherapy for some prostate cancer patients may produce even better outcomes when combined with a specialised medicine known as a radiopharmaceutical, which delivers extra radiation to a ligand, a type of molecule that is attracted to cancer cells. They are often used to target tumours on the prostate.

This is the finding of a new piece of research that has just been presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology.

What The Research Reveals

Conducted by the University of California, Los Angeles, the Phase II LUNAR trial is the first randomised study to show that patients undergoing a combination of stereotactic radiotherapy and a radiopharmaceutical in prostate cancer with limited metastasis can live longer without disease progression than when the radiotherapy is used alone.

The particular category of patients to which the research applies is sufferers from hormone-sensitive, oligometastatic prostate cancer with between one and five metastasised lesions as detected by a scan. This means they have secondary cancer in up to five locations away from the prostate.

At present, the use of stereotactic radiotherapy for such patients has the benefit of enabling them to live longer without the level of disease progression that would require the use of androgen deprivation therapy, which can be effective as a treatment but comes with major side effects, such as reduced bone density and cardiovascular problems.

Although this use of radiotherapy brings major benefits, the cancer tends to return, which the researchers noted is due to very small-scale disease that cannot be detected by scans.

A Microscopic Threat

Lead investigator in the trial and professor of oncology at the University of California, Dr Amar Kishan, observed: “Metastasis-directed radiation therapy delays progression, but many patients still [see the cancer] recur. That tells us there must be disease present that we can’t see even with today’s advanced imaging.”

The implication is that the radiopharmaceuticals are attacking cancer cells that have not been detected in scans, reducing the capacity of undetected microscopic cancers to cause recurrences of disease.

A central finding of the trial was that for patients receiving these radiopharmaceuticals in addition to stereotactic radiotherapy, the median time that elapsed before they had to undergo hormonal therapy was 18 months, compared with seven months for those without the radiopharmaceuticals.

Dr Kishan said that while hormonal drugs remain very important in secondary cancer care, any advance in radiotherapy treatments that delays the arrival of the time when they need to be used is a “meaningful quality of life win”.

Although this benefit is clear, around 64 per cent of the patients taking radiopharmaceuticals eventually experienced disease progression, which Dr Kishan noted is a sign that further research is required into microscopic disease, its effects on cancer and the implications for treatment.

However, where one beneficial discovery has been made, others might soon follow.

How We Can Help You

If you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and are unhappy with the level of care or form of radiotherapy you are receiving, you may find we can offer something much better in the form of stereotactic radiotherapy.

It does remain to be seen just how soon the use of radiopharmaceuticals to combat metastasised prostate cancer in the way described above becomes common practice. Further research may be carried out to verify the findings before this happens, either in the US or elsewhere, including here in Austria.

Even so, we remain committed to using the most up-to-date equipment, techniques and medical knowledge to provide the best possible treatment for our patients and achieve the most optimal outcomes.

Learn more about our Radiotherapy treatments for prostate cancer on the Amethyst Radiotherapy Austria website