What Do You Need To Know Before Novocure Cancer Treatment?

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.