Stereotactic radiotherapy (SABR or SBRT)
Stereotactic radiotherapy is highly precise, high dose radiotherapy that is given in a small number of treatments (normally 1-5). It has a high likelihood of shrinking or eradicating the area of cancer that we are treating. Because the dosing of radiation is so precise, the side effects of SABR are usually minimal. I’ll always talk to you about which side effects you might experience before we start treatment.
SABR can be used to treat metastases in the lung, liver, bones, lymph nodes.
If you have oligometastatic cancer, depending upon your individual situation we’ll talk about the need for medication (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy) in addition to SABR. If you have oligoprogressive cancer, I’ll advise if you need to stop your medication while we give the SABR or not.
I’m able to offer you SABR using CyberKnife [insert link] or the MRLinac [insert link].
Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for brain metastases
Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) offers a non-invasive treatment that can control or eliminate brain metastases effectively. The name of the treatment may make you think that this is a surgical treatment – in fact, SRS involves delivering concentrated radiation doses precisely to the affected areas of the brain in 1-3 treatment sessions. You remain at home throughout and only need to attend the hospital for the treatment (which can be around an hour or so). I’m able to offer you SRS using CyberKnife or a modern linear accelerator (Linac). We’ll talk about which method is best for you.
Supportive radiotherapy for symptom control
My first priority when we meet will be to address your symptoms. For example, pain is not only unpleasant to live with, it can also impact upon your ability to receive effective treatments for your cancer – as it can affect your appetite, mobility, sleep and ability to get on with your life. The radiotherapy I can give you offers an excellent chance of improving your symptoms, thereby allowing you to return to your normal life. In private hospitals, I’m able to offer advanced radiotherapy techniques, quickly, to get on top of your symptoms without adding in side effects.
If your cancer is causing you pain, a troublesome cough, visible swellings, or any other symptom that is causing you concern, I can personalise a radiotherapy plan to help you.
Medications (Systemic therapy)
Drug treatments for cancer are improving all the time. A medication plan to treat your metastatic cancer might include immunotherapy, chemotherapy or a combination of them both. Depending upon the genetic driver of your cancer, a drug that targets the particular molecules involved in the growth, progression, and spread of your cancer cells might be used. When I see you in my private clinic, I am able to access all treatments that are of proven benefit to get the best results, based on the most up-to-date clinical evidence, for you.