Breakthrough therapy ‘kills cancer cells’

A BREAKTHROUGH treatment for prostate cancer is available for the first time on the Gold Coast at GenesisCare in Southport.

Stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SBRT) is a highly accurate, non-invasive type of radiation therapy that targets the tumour’s connective tissue and DNA, helping to rapidly kill cancer cells.

GenesisCare radiation oncologist, Dr Sagar Ramani, said the cutting-edge therapy allowed specialists to deliver treatment across five sessions, compared to the 20-40 sessions required with conventional radiation therapy.

“This reduces the physical and emotional burden of treatment for our patients,” he said.

“SBRT allows clinicians to precisely deliver a high dose of radiation directly to the tumour with sub-millimetre accuracy, destroying cancer cells while reducing the radiation dose to the surrounding normal tissues.

“This is especially important for cancers located near other sensitive organs, such as prostate cancer, as it can help to minimise radiating the healthy cells and minimise side effects.”

Prostate cancer is the state’s most diagnosed cancer in men, accounting for 25 per cent of all male cancers and 12 per cent of all male cancer deaths.

Dr Ramami said for about half of all cancer patients, radiation therapy played an important role in the treatment pathway, used with curative intent and in pain and symptom management.

“Research has shown that stereotactic ablative radiation therapy for low and intermediate risk prostate cancer is effective in reducing the risk of recurrence and is associated with minimal side effects,” said Dr Ramani.

“Previously, our prostate cancer patients would have to attend daily treatment for four-eight weeks, placing a considerable burden on patients and their families.”

Radiation oncologist Associate Prof Siddhartha Baxi said prostate cancer patients had access to the new treatment at GenesisCare’s Southport and Chermside centres.

SBRT ALLOWS CLINICIANS TO PRECISELY DELIVER A HIGH DOSE OF RADIATION DIRECTLY TO THE TUMOUR WITH SUB-MILLIMETRE ACCURACY DR SAGAR RAMANI