Because there are hundreds of different cancer types, there are a huge number of treatments, some of which are better suited to certain kinds of cancer than others.

However, whilst there are three main types of treatment in surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, a fourth approved treatment type known as Novocure has demonstrated considerable promise as a potentially versatile therapy.

Because Novocure and similar tumour treating fields (TTFields) treatments are still relatively new, the range of tumour types they can treat is still the subject of significant medical study.

Here is what is known so far, and what you should know if you and your doctor think it might be the right treatment for you.

What Is Novocure?

Novocure, or the broader treatment type of tumour treating fields, is an alternating electric field therapy where low-intensity electric fields are used to disrupt the division of cancer cells, which leads to cell death and potentially shrinking or destroying tumours in the process.

By placing electrode arrays on the skin near where a tumour is located, a TTFields treatment tuned to a certain frequency could interfere with the structure of cell division and destroy them as they attempt to multiply.

Whilst more research is being undertaken as to the exact process, the system has been approved because TTFields treatments are non-invasive and potentially cause less harm to healthy cells than alternative treatments.

Why Is It Different From Radiotherapy?

In principle, TTFields works towards a broadly similar goal to radiotherapy, although the methodology and treatment process is often very different.

Radiotherapy works by using targeted radioactive beams to destroy cancerous cells, but radiation can also harm healthy cells.

This is why treatments such as Gamma Knife radiosurgery use extensive planning processes and fixed frames to precisely deliver doses of radiation. As its inventor, Lars Leksell put it, there is no tool too precise for use in the brain.

Whilst chemotherapy uses a different process, it is similar to radiotherapy in that whilst it damages cancer cells, it also affects other cells as well.

This is something that TTFields therapies manage to avoid, allowing for a non-invasive type of treatment without many expected side effects.

When Is It Used?

At present, TTFields therapy is primarily used to treat glioblastoma and mesothelioma, cancer types that can be difficult to treat without aggressive treatment, as this can allow for a higher quality of life during treatment than intense chemotherapy or surgery will allow.

Treating mesothelioma, a cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and heart which is often associated with asbestos exposure, is not always easy as it is often resistant to radiotherapy.

A TTFields treatment in this case is typically provided alongside chemotherapy in order to make the latter more effective; a 2025 study in the American Journal of Cancer Research suggested that it forced cancer cells to absorb more chemotherapy medicine and stopped cancer cells from dividing.

On the other hand, glioblastoma is an aggressive form of brain tumour that is commonly treated using a combination of surgery and complementary radiotherapy and chemotherapy to reduce the potential for it to return or to treat recurrent cases without invasive radical treatments.

A lot of research is currently being undertaken to ascertain its applicability for a range of other types of cancer as well, with some promise being found in trials of its use to treat certain types of pancreatic cancer.

Is It Right For You?

Your oncologist and multidisciplinary team will explore the possibility of using Novocure, as the innovative treatment type can not only improve the overall rate of survival but can do so whilst providing a high quality of life and level of control over treatment.

A TTFields therapy is noninvasive and is simply worn on the body. There is no need for surgery, no injections and little disruption besides shaving the hair on the part of the body where electrodes are applied and mild skin irritation in some cases.

There are typically fewer appointments required or regimented sessions, unlike the daily radiotherapy sessions or stays in hospital needed for surgery.

It also does not necessarily cause the same levels of fatigue that some aggressive forms of treatment can cause, allowing people to continue living their lives and maintaining their independence.

We understand the importance of having a routine and the ability to enjoy your time with loved ones or doing what you love, and Novocure TTFields therapy can allow you to receive vital treatment without the major disruptions that can sometimes come with it.

Prostate cancer is one of the most prominent gender-specific cancers, but, in common with other forms of cancer, early diagnosis can make a major difference to the prognosis for patients.

Not only does it make the chances of survival greater, especially because early intervention can stop secondary cancer arising, but it also means the course of treatment is likely to be shorter and less gruelling than with a later diagnosis.

Prostate cancer can come in different categories, such as localised, locally advanced, metastatic castration-sensitive, recurrent and castration-resistant. However, what these categories have in common is that radiotherapy can be used to treat each of them, whereas other treatments may be used for some categories and not others.

Our radiotherapy centre can treat each of these, enabling you to get the right kind of medical care in each situation.

New Test May Improve Prostate Cancer Detection

A major concern in the medical profession has been the general reluctance of men to seek medical attention and help when they perceive they may have a health problem, ignoring symptoms that may be used to make an early diagnosis.

However, a new development in prostate cancer diagnostics may go some way to resolving this issue for this particular disease.

A new test, developed in the UK, is a simple saliva-based method of detecting signs of prostate cancer. Rather than men having to visit a doctor and get a blood test – something trypanophobic patients will be reluctant to do – the test can be completed at home. The user just has to spit in a tube and post it off to a laboratory to be tested.

Making a test that patients are more willing to use and can access without a visit to clinical premises can have the benefit of increasing the number of men taking it.

However, even this may be less advantageous than the finding of one study that the spit test is more effective than a blood test in detecting more aggressive cancers while at the same time recording fewer false positives.

Further studies are required to ensure it is effective across different racial groups, which is important because prostate cancer rates are highest among black men and higher among South Asian men than white Europeans. This makes it particularly important that the test works effectively among ethnic groups at higher risk.

European Variations In Outcomes

Nonetheless, if it is successful, it will be likely that this test is used across Europe and beyond, helping improve diagnosis and patient outcomes, with lower mortality as a result.

Here in Austria, the population is mostly white, but while the ethnic composition may differ in some other countries across Europe, this alone does not account for the wide diversity of outcomes for prostate cancer patients.

A Europe-wide study covering the period from 1980 to 2017 across 26 European countries, of which 19 were (or are) in the EU, highlighted some notable disparities, especially in detection rates.

While most countries saw a clear increase in the numbers detected over the period, others saw a rise and then a decrease (France and Italy) or fluctuations between rising and falling rates, Austria being an instance of the latter trend.

However, these variations may have a high correlation with detection rates, with the number of men getting tested varying, along with public health promotion of testing. Only one country, Lithuania, has had a national screening programme.

Survival rates varied, with trends being broadly flat, although some worsened over time. However, overall, the situation did improve, demonstrating the effectiveness of improved diagnosis and treatment, including radiotherapy. Austria is one country with a significantly improved survival rate.

Other comparative data includes EU statistics from 2022 indicating a wide disparity of outcomes, with a mortality rate of 38.6 per 100,000 overall across the EU, varying widely between 80.4 in Estonia and 25.7 in Italy.

Latvia had the second highest mortality rate at 76.1, which may indicate a particular problem in the Baltic region and justify the decision to institute a national screening programme in Lithuania.

Our Focus On Individual Patients

Comparative data across different countries can be informative about national trends, but for individuals who have had a prostate cancer diagnosis and are seeking private treatment for it, their situation is the most important area of consideration.

Not only does this mean that the diagnosis may uncover a different severity or type of prostate cancer or detect it at a different stage of development, but, as with any cancer patient, factors such as age, overall health and genetics can play a role in determining the best course of treatment.

Therefore, while early detection remains a crucial factor in improving the prospects for patients, no two patients are the same. That is why our radiotherapy oncologists will work with you in creating the best treatment plan for you.

Anyone suffering from brain tumours, be they benign or malignant, will seek the best medical care possible to provide relief from symptoms or even a solution that fully resolves the issue. However, the care that is needed depends on a range of different factors.

The most important factor is whether a tumour is benign or malignant, the first type being non-cancerous and the second cancerous. A second issue is the location of the tumour, which can determine what impact it has and also what treatment options are available. A third issue is the type of tumour, some being more aggressive and fast-growing than others.

However, one of the most significant differences is between primary and secondary tumours. Understanding the difference between these is important for patients to stay informed about their treatment options at our radiotherapy centre, as there is a clear distinction between the two categories.

The Key Difference

With brain tumours, a primary tumour is one that starts in the brain, whereas a secondary tumour is one that has started elsewhere in the body, but has then spread to the brain.

In the first case, a primary tumour will usually originate in an area called the cerebrum, but it can occur in any part of the brain or spinal cord, with the pituitary glands and the meninges (the outer tissues that protect the brain) also being where tumours frequently arise.

Tumours that start in the meninges, called meningiomas, are the most likely to be benign, but there are many other kinds of benign brain tumours. Some of the most aggressive malignant tumours come from the spinal cord or nearby areas of the brain, such as glioblastomas, which arise in star-shaped cells called astrocytes.

Secondary brain cancer is made up of the same cells as the kind of cancer that it starts as. This can include common cancers such as skin (melanoma), lung, breast, kidney or colorectal cancer. This means that, unlike some primary brain tumours, these are never benign.

These distinctions make a major difference to the kinds of treatment you may receive and the options open to you and your oncologists.

Treating Primary Tumours

In the first instance, because some primary tumours are benign, there may be means of treating them that enable the tumour to be managed without full excision or extensive radiotherapy or chemotherapy. In some cases, patients are asymptomatic. For example, many schwannomas do not produce symptoms, although others can cause hearing loss.

However, in most cases, surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy – or a combination of different treatments – may be required. In some cases this can remove a tumour that may turn cancerous later on, while it can also help tackle benign tumours that can cause other problems by placing pressure on the brain.

If the tumour is cancerous, early diagnosis is very important, as is beginning treatment as soon as possible. Whether it can be removed or reduced with surgery can depend on its location in the brain, while stereotactic surgery, which focuses an intense beam of radiation, can be the best option for some tumours that are otherwise hard to reach.

Diagnosing Secondary Tumours

In the case of secondary cancers, the great likelihood is that the cancer will have been diagnosed and be undergoing treatment before the point at which any secondary tumour arises in the brain, although there are some instances where the secondary cancer in the brain is detected first.

In the case of any cancer, one of the main factors that determine the outlook for patients is whether metastasis (the cancer spreading) takes place.

Examples of this would include instances of breast cancer where a mastectomy has been carried out. In some instances, this removes all cancer as metastasis has not occurred, but in other cases, it will have spread to other parts of the body, which could include the brain.

In some cases, signs of secondary cancer may arise from common symptoms associated with brain tumours, such as nausea, weakness on one side of the body, speech problems or impaired eyesight. In other cases, they may be asymptomatic.

Treating Secondary Tumours

Should a secondary brain tumour arise, the treatment methods will include the same range available for primary tumours, including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The one difference is these may be provided in combination with ongoing treatment for the primary cancer.

Whether a brain tumour is primary or secondary, there are many treatment options. With the help of our skilled team of oncologists, we can help you establish the best means of treatment to provide you with symptomatic relief and seek the best possible outcomes.

Cancer treatment is a process with many steps before, during and after visiting the radiotherapy centre, and specialist cancer doctors and nurses will take a holistic, conscientious approach during the entire duration of the journey.

Every cancer diagnosis and treatment is different, which means that there will be aspects of one person’s cancer journey that will be different from someone else’s. This means different types of treatment and different challenges before, during and after.

As both physical and mental health can have an effect on treatment according to at least one study, a key part of treatment is remaining positive, active and motivated with help from yourcare team and support network.

Whilst every cancer journey is unique, here are some examples of small, simple steps you can take to help reduce mental and physical stress whilst undergoing cancer treatment.

Seek Help Through Your Support Network

You never have to face cancer alone, and there are so many people in your life, in your care team, or who are or have been in a similar position to you who will help you with anything you need.

A problem shared is also halved, and soon after a diagnosis, a helpful step is to identify who you want to be part of your social network and what you might need whilst going through treatment.

Friends, family, coworkers and loved ones will be there for you to go to your regular appointments, help with errands during days when cancer fatigue means you have less energythan you would otherwise and be a sympathetic ear.

Your care team will also be there for you to provide advice and information regarding aspects of the treatment and taking care of yourself throughout your cancer journey.

Finally, there are support groups that are often available in your local community which can bring you closer to people who are being treated for cancer as well, which can provide an opportunity to discuss aspects of treatment and make new friends in the process.

Similarly, a professional therapist or counsellor can also help by providing a safe, judgement-free place to process everything, as well as provide a toolkit of techniques to help you manage the more difficult parts of treatment.

Eat A Nutrient-Dense Diet

A balanced diet is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle, but it is especially important during cancer treatment, where maintaining energy levels and boosting strength is exceptionally important.

As every cancer treatment is unique, so too are everyone’s dietary needs during treatment. You will be offered a nutritionist who can devise a personalised nutrition plan that suits your needs best based on the overall treatment plan, the expected effects of treatment and any personal dietary needs.

In general, any recommended diet for a healthy lifestyle that could reduce the risk of health complications is generally going to be beneficial when going through cancer treatment, and many doctors will use the basic principles of the Mediterranean diet as a template for advice.

Focusing on eating less processed meat, more lean protein, more fruits and vegetables as well as healthy fats such as nuts, seeds and olive oil can provide some benefits. Nutrient-rich smoothies and soups can be helpful as they are often easier to digest.

As with any dietary change, ask your cancer team if you have any questions or would like any further recommendations.

Stay Active

Exercising is not only possible during most types of cancer treatments but it can provide significant mental and physical benefits.

Any extra exercise you do will provide significant benefits according to research compiled by Cancer Research UK, including improving your mood, giving you more energy and helping you stay mobile.

Everyone has different fitness goals and needs, so focus on what you can do and listen to your body. There are different types of exercise to suit every person, and a physiotherapist will often be a part of your cancer team to help you find a routine that works for you and that you can maintain.

Give Yourself Time And Space

In a particularly hectic world, the time we take to stop, breathe and relax is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle for both psychological and physiological reasons.

Deep breathing, meditation and yoga help slow the heart rate, control breathing and help people to feel more at ease, something that can be essential during particularly stressful situations.

Mindfulness practices, such as breathing exercises, meditation and journaling can help people during cancer treatment by providing a way to reduce or relieve stress gradually over time.