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A NEW method of treating certain cancers – which is more precise, reduces treatment time and minimises side effects – has been introduced by the National University Health System (NUHS).
Used on patients suffering from prostate, breast and cervical cancer, the radiotherapy known as high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy involves inserting thin hollow tubes or catheters into the body to deliver radioactive materials into the tumour directly.
As the high radiation dose affects less than 1cm of the area around the tumour, the treatment will minimise damage to healthy tissue.
The radioactive material will be removed after each session while the catheters are removed only after all sessions of the treatment are completed.
This is different from conventional radiotherapy where the radiation is beamed externally to the tumour, increasing the possibility of damaging the surrounding healthy tissue and organs.
HDR brachytherapy has been used to treat cervical cancer for decades, but it was only in the early 1990s that countries like the United States and Britain used it to treat other cancers.
NUHS, which adopted it two years ago for prostate and breast cancer treatments, is believed to be the first in South-east Asia to do so.
Dr Keith Lim, from the National University Cancer Institute (NCIS), NUHS, said they had taken a longer time to adopt this method because they wanted to wait for mature clinical data from other countries proving the safety and effectiveness of the treatment. Over the years, the technology for HDR brachytherapy has improved and international guidelines have been established.
“As such, we are more confident that this offers an alternative, effective and safe treatment to our local patients,” Dr Lim said.
To achieve higher accuracy, 3-D images from CT, ultrasound and MRI scans are also used.
Associate Professor Jay Lu, head of the NCIS’ Radiation Therapy Centre, said the 3-D images will allow doctors to see the tumour and the surrounding tissue more clearly.
He said: “When we are treating in a conventional way, we are kind of halfblindfolded. We can see things, but the things are not very clear to us.”
Trials and clinical services using 3-D HDR brachytherapy have been carried out by NCIS since 2008, with about 65 cancer patients going through the treatment with few side effects.
Treatment time was cut to five weeks for prostate cancer, down from the usual eight weeks. Breast and cervical cancer treatments can also be done in a few days, instead of several weeks.
However, not all patients will be eligible for this alternative treatment as there are factors such as age, tumour size and stage of cancer to be considered.
It will also cost about $1,500 to $5,000 more than conventional methods, depending on the type of cancer and treatment needed.
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