As a consultant clinical oncologist specialising in lung and skin cancers, I offer a range of advanced drug treatments to combat these challenging diseases. My approach combines cutting-edge therapies with personalised care, ensuring that you receive the most effective treatment tailored to your specific needs.
My Approach
As your oncologist, I’m committed to providing you with the most effective treatment possible for you. I stay at the forefront of evolving cancer research, ensuring that you have access to the latest therapies and clinical trials. My goal is not just to treat your cancer, but to support you and your family holistically throughout.
Personalised Treatment Selection
Choosing the right treatment for you is a complex and highly individualised process. Every person I treat is unique – not just in terms of their medical history and overall health, but also in their personal circumstances, preferences, and goals for treatment. Similarly, each cancer has its own distinct characteristics, from its genetic profile to its stage and location. This means there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to cancer treatment. When determining the best course of action, I consider a multitude of factors: the specific type and stage of your cancer, its genetic makeup, your overall health and medical history, potential side effects, your personal preferences, and your lifestyle. We also discuss your goals for treatment – whether that’s pursuing a cure, extending life, or focusing on quality of life. This comprehensive, personalised approach ensures that the treatment plan we develop together is tailored specifically to you and your unique situation, giving you the best possible chance of a positive outcome.
If needed, I can access supportive care and therapies to optimise your general health and well-being before treatment to give the treatment the best chance of success and to minimise the impact of side effects.
Whether you’re newly diagnosed or seeking a second opinion, I’m here to guide you through your treatment options and help you make informed decisions about your care. Together, we’ll create a treatment plan that gives you the best chance of a positive outcome while maintaining your quality of life.
Treatment Settings and Goals
Drug treatments for lung and skin cancers are used in various settings, each with its own objectives:
1. Curative Intent: In early-stage cancers, we may use drug treatments in combination with surgery or radiotherapy to maximise the chance of a cure. This approach, known as neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy, aims to shrink tumours before surgery or eliminate any remaining cancer cells after surgery. Some drugs are given at the same time as radiotherapy to make it even more effective.
2. Disease Control: For advanced cancers, our goal is to shrink, control, and contain the cancer for as long as possible. This approach focuses on extending life while maintaining or improving quality of life.
3. Symptom Management: In some cases, drug treatments are used primarily to alleviate symptoms, reduce pain, and improve overall well-being.
Types of Drug Treatments
1. Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is one of the most exciting advancements in cancer treatment in recent years. This approach harnesses the power of your own immune system to fight cancer cells.
Key Benefits:
– Fewer side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy
– Can lead to long-lasting remissions in some patients
– May be effective even when other treatments have failed
Examples for Lung Cancer:
– Pembrolizumab (Keytruda)
– Nivolumab (Opdivo)
– Atezolizumab (Tecentriq)
– Durvalumab (Imfinzi)
Examples for Skin Cancer:
– Ipilimumab (Yervoy) for melanoma
– Cemiplimab (Libtayo) for advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
Administration: Immunotherapy drugs are typically given as an intravenous infusion every 2-4 weeks.
Potential Side Effects: While generally well-tolerated, immunotherapy can cause immune-related side effects such as fatigue, skin rashes, or inflammation in various organs. These are usually manageable and often resolve with appropriate treatment.
Private Care Advantage: As a private patient, you’ll have access to the latest immunotherapy drugs as soon as they become available, often before they’re widely accessible on the NHS. This can be crucial in fast-moving fields like lung cancer and melanoma treatment, where new therapies are constantly emerging. As well as having the option to receive the treatment in a hospital setting that prioritises your privacy and comfort, you can choose to receive this treatment in your own home.
2. Targeted Therapies
Targeted therapies are designed to attack specific genetic mutations or proteins that drive cancer growth. These precision medicines can be highly effective for patients with certain genetic profiles.
Key Benefits:
– Often more effective and less toxic than traditional chemotherapy for patients with specific genetic mutations
– Can be taken orally, allowing for treatment at home
– May provide better quality of life during treatment
Examples for Lung Cancer:
– Osimertinib (Tagrisso) for EGFR mutations
– Alectinib (Alecensa) for ALK rearrangements
– Crizotinib (Xalkori) for ROS1 rearrangements
– Dabrafenib (Tafinlar) for BRAF-mutated tumours
– Tepotinib (Tepmetko) for MET exon 14 skipping mutations or MET amplifications
– Sotorasib (Lumykras) for KRAS G12C mutation
Examples for Skin Cancer:
– Vemurafenib (Zelboraf) or Dabrafenib (Tafinlar) for BRAF-mutated melanoma
– Vismodegib (Erivedge) for advanced basal cell carcinoma
Administration: Most targeted therapies are taken orally as tablets or capsules, usually on a daily basis.
Potential Side Effects: Side effects vary depending on the specific drug but may include skin rashes, diarrhoea, liver function changes, or rarely, lung inflammation. These are often manageable with supportive care or dose adjustments.
Private Care Advantage: Private care allows for rapid genetic testing of your tumour, ensuring you receive the most appropriate targeted therapy without delay. I can quickly arrange for comprehensive genomic profiling, which may identify additional treatment options not routinely available on the NHS.
3. Chemotherapy
While newer treatments have emerged, chemotherapy remains a crucial tool in treating many cancers. Modern chemotherapy regimens are more effective and better tolerated than ever before. Chemotherapy can also be used in combination with immunotherapy or targeted therapy.
Key Benefits:
– Can be effective against a wide range of cancer types
– Often used in combination with other treatments for enhanced effectiveness
– Can provide rapid symptom relief in some cases
Examples for Lung Cancer:
– Cisplatin or Carboplatin (platinum-based drugs)
– Pemetrexed (Alimta)
– Docetaxel (Taxotere)
Examples for Skin Cancer:
– Dacarbazine for melanoma
– 5-Fluorouracil for basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas
Administration: Chemotherapy is typically given as an intravenous infusion in cycles, usually every 3-4 weeks. Some chemotherapy drugs for skin cancer can be applied topically.
Potential Side Effects: Common side effects may include fatigue, nausea, hair loss, and increased risk of infections. Modern supportive care has greatly improved our ability to manage these side effects effectively.
Private Care Advantage: As a private patient, you’ll have access to the most advanced chemotherapy drugs and supportive care to manage side effects. Treatment can be scheduled at your convenience, minimising disruption to your daily life.
The Private Care Difference
Choosing to receive your cancer treatment privately offers several advantages:
– Rapid Access: Start your treatment quickly, without long waiting.
– Personalised Care: More time for in-depth consultations and personalised treatment planning. You will see me, and not a doctor-in-training or other health professional, regularly throughout treatment
– Flexibility: Treatment locations and appointment times that fit around your life and commitments.
– Comfort: Receive treatment in modern, comfortable facilities like the Cromwell Hospital, The London Clinic, and Leaders in Oncology Care (LOC).
– Continuity: See me and my support team throughout your treatment, ensuring consistent, high-quality care.
– Home Treatment: For suitable treatments and patients, I can arrange for you to receive your treatment in the comfort of your own home, supervised by specialist nurses.