Overcoming Cancer: Recent Advancements in Oncology

Recent advances in scientific and medical research are discovering more ways to combat cancer. Developing a way to implement those discoveries often takes years. New ways to overcome different types of cancer enable people to overcome cancer and give them new hope and oftentimes an extended lifespan.

Combination Therapy

Instead of just using one type of cancer treatment as has been done so often in the past, researchers have discovered that combining different types of therapies, such as radiation and chemotherapy, works even better. While one treatment often resulted in positive results, it was found that a combination of treatment could add as much as five years to their life.

Tumor Treating Fields

Some brain cancers have proved especially hard to deal with, such as glioblastoma, leading to a survival rate of only 10 percent after a five-year period from the time of discovery. After surgery, chemotherapy and radiology, Tumor Treating Fields (TTFs) have also been applied to the brain to help slow the rate of the rapidly growing cancer cells. This method applies a low voltage electrical field to the area through a device on the head. The method was found to increase the life expectancy of about three months. The FDA approved the device and it can now be used to treat those who have just been diagnosed with glioblastoma, as well.

Advances in Lung Cancer Treatment

Patients receiving treatment for lung cancer are often given targeted therapies, but a percentage of people develop resistance to it because of gene mutations. While the treatment results in initial tumor shrinkage, resistance often enables the tumor to start growing again. The development of new drugs shows promise of overcoming the resistant mutation, known as T790M. It is not yet known if this can increase survival rates.

Proton Therapy

Proton Therapy is another recent development in cancer treatment. This treatment, according to an expert from SAH GLOBAL, is unique in its accuracy and ability to avoid damaging healthy tissue. Proton Therapy will, on average, affect 70% less healthy tissues than conventional radiation therapy would. Because of its minimally invasive nature, Proton Therapy can provide a better quality of life for cancer survivors.

Cancer treatments continue to be developed that are better than ever. Many research programs continue at labs and hospitals across the country, and you may also to find a cancer treatment center near you that offers one or more of these advanced treatment options.