Primary vs. Secondary Cancer: How Radiotherapy differs

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Cancer is a relentless adversary, but the battle against it can vary significantly depending on whether it’s primary or secondary cancer. Understanding these distinctions is vital for patients and their families, especially when it comes to the role of radiotherapy in the treatment plan.

Primary Cancer: The Initial Encounter

Primary cancer is where the disease originates. It begins in a particular organ or tissue, often leading to a localised tumour. The management of primary cancer typically involves a combination of treatments, which may include surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiotherapy.

When it is employed for primary cancer, the goal is often to target the tumour directly while minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissue. The treatment plan is customised for each patient, taking into account the tumour’s location, size and type.

Secondary Cancer: The Challenge of Metastasis

Secondary cancer, on the other hand, results from the spread of cancer cells from the primary site to other parts of the body. These metastatic tumours can be located in distant organs or tissues, making treatment more complex.

Radiotherapy for secondary cancer aims to target and control the metastatic tumours while also considering the potential risks to the patient’s overall health. The approach is often more palliative, focusing on symptom relief, pain management and improving the patient’s quality of life.

Differences In Radiotherapy Approaches

The main difference between primary and secondary cancer radiotherapy lies in the intent and scope of treatment. Primary cancer therapy is typically curative, aiming to eradicate the tumour. In contrast, secondary cancer therapy is usually palliative, focusing on symptom control and extending life while maintaining a good quality of life.

What To Expect

For both primary and secondary cancer therapy, patients can expect a thorough evaluation and treatment planning process. Imaging scans, such as CT or MRI, help determine the precise location and size of the tumours. The treatment team will work together to create a customised plan that balances the treatment’s effectiveness with minimising side effects.

Side-effects can include fatigue, skin irritation and discomfort, depending on the treatment site. Patients are closely monitored throughout the treatment course, and adjustments are made as needed to manage side effects and ensure the best possible outcome.

In conclusion, while the specifics may differ for primary and secondary cancer, the overarching goal remains the same: to provide patients with the best possible care and treatment. The choice of as part of the treatment plan depends on the individual circumstances of the patient and the expertise of the medical team.

What are the advantages of having Gamma Knife Radiotherapy?

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Hearing that you have a brain tumour is devastating not only for yourself, but for everyone who loves you. However, the good news is there are several options when it comes to treatments, including gamma knife radiotherapy.

What is gamma knife radiotherapy?

Otherwise known as stereotactic radiosurgery, gamma knife radiotherapy involves using beans of gamma rays to treat the tumour.

This concentrated dose targets the cancer cells, while a lower dose is used on surrounding tissue to limit damage to healthy cells.

Why are more choosing gamma knife radiotherapy over surgery?

There are many reasons why patients are opting for gamma knife radiotherapy performed by specialist consultants like Mr Neil Kitchen at Amethyst Radiotherapy.

Here are just a few:

  • No need for an incision 

One of the many benefits of this form of treatment has to be that it is non-invasive.

It does not involve making an incision, meaning there is no need for anaesthesia. There is, therefore, less recovery time and less trauma to the skull and brain.

  • Quick recovery

As a result, patients can be in and out of the hospital within a day with the procedure lasting up to just 70 minutes, without requiring an overnight stay.

In fact, those who have a brain tumour operation might need to remain in hospital for between three and ten days, as it carries a risk of infection, blood clots, chest and breathing difficulties, wound problems, and allergic reactions.

There could also be swelling in the brain, which needs to be monitored very closely by medical staff.

With regards to long-term consequences of brain surgery, patients might have difficulty walking, find it hard to concentrate or remember things, experience behaviour changes, feel weakness in an arm or leg, have speech problems, feel fatigue, or suffer from epilepsy.

Consequently, gamma knife radiotherapy is preferential when a high risk patient is involved or the tumour is too difficult to reach with conventional surgery.

  • Minimal side-effects

Unlike neurosurgery, the side-effects of gamma knife treatment is minimal. Patients might experience some headaches and nausea, but these are rare, and when they do occur, are only temporary.

Typically, patients can carry on with their usual activities the following day, as they have not had to undergo surgery or have anaesthetic.

  • Precision 

Another reason why gamma knife treatment is preferable to neurosurgery is the fact it is extremely precise.

As the rays are aimed at their specific targets and the dose is customised for each patient, the impact on surrounding tissue, blood vessel structures and other critical nerves are dramatically reduced.

This also means it can be used to treat those tumours that are incredibly hard to reach. In these cases, neurosurgery might not be a viable option, as surgeons will not be able to access the tumour to remove it in its entirety.

However, radiotherapy can still target the cancerous cells wherever they are in the brain.