New Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment

Dr.Arun Giri, 3 mins read

Cancer is one of the biggest fears of humans in this century. It claims thousands of lives every year and affects millions of families worldwide. Not only does it bring physical and financial burdens but mental stress, too. That stress is sometimes so significant that patients often lose the last bit of their hope. But there is a sigh of relief! 

Thanks to all the researchers who work day and night to bring innovative therapies and technologies to give this monster a better fight. These efforts even reflect promising results, with many patients reporting better outcomes and quality of life. 

This guide will walk you through some of the advancements in cancer therapies and technologies. So, let’s understand each one by one. 

Advancement in vaccines

Our immune system is one of the best shields we have had since birth. It has the ability to identify, memorise, and even kill foreign agents, including cancer cells. But the challenge with cancerous cells is that they are clever enough to escape this shield. This makes it difficult for immune cells to identify and kill cancer cells.

Taking advantage of it, cancerous cells multiply and grow. The new advancement in cancer vaccines is around this theory. These personalised cancer vaccines are made to prime the immune cells to recognise and destroy the malignant cells. These vaccines are even believed to have fewer side effects compared to conventional chemotherapy. The trials have already been started in a few parts of Western countries. 

Precision medicines and therapies

Over the last few years, there have been continuous updates on precision medicines and therapies. Since the conventional treatment options often affect the nearby healthy cells along with the cancerous ones, advancements in precision treatment have given new hope. 

These options are made to specifically target the malignant cells while leaving a negligible impact on nearby healthy cells. The best thing is that they can be tailored to cancer’s genetic makeup and molecular characteristics, making treatment more effective.  

Immunotherapy 

As discussed above, our immune system is capable enough to fight cancer, but it requires a boost. Immunotherapy is good at this job. It is currently used for the treatment of many types of cancers. 

Immunotherapies are designed to power up the immune system to recognise and kill the cancerous cells. There are many forms of immunotherapy, with adoptive cell therapy, checkpoint inhibitors, and monoclonal antibodies being the popular ones.

Adaptive radiation therapy (ART)

Radiation therapy is among the mainstay treatments of cancer. But it can have an impact on other healthy cells. So, there was always a need for an option that could be more precise. Adaptive radiation therapy is an innovation in this approach.

It allows for real-time adjustments of the radiation plan as per the changing tumour’s size and position and the location of nearby healthy organs during every radiation therapy.

Minimally invasive surgical techniques

Surgery is a crucial treatment for many solid tumours. These procedures involve removing the tumour along with some healthy nearby tissues to minimize the risk of recurrence. Often, these procedures require a long incision, which means a longer recovery time. 

Thanks to the advent of minimally invasive technologies like laparoscopic, endoscopic and robotic-assisted surgeries. These options have made complex cancer surgeries much more precise and accurate. This results in smaller incisions, faster recovery, fewer complications, and better outcomes. 

Use of AI (Artificial intelligence)

Nowadays, AI is almost everywhere. Every industry is using its power for different purposes. Healthcare is no exception. AI has proven a boon and an effective tool, especially in diagnosing some types of cancer. 

Furthermore, artificial intelligence is also sometimes used to analyse medical reports and summarise the highlights. Researchers are further investigating how this revolutionary technology can be used more in cancer treatment.

Final take!

The advancement in treatment options have emerged as a new hope for innumerable patients suffering from cancer. These innovations have improved not only the success rate but also the patient’s life expectancy and quality of life. Plus, they have reduced the side effects. It’s best to consult a cancer specialist to know which approach can be more helpful to you or your loved one.