Try adjusting your type
14th October, 2009
European Survey on Standards of Care in paediatric oncology centres. J. R. Kowalczyk, M. Samardakiewicz, K. Pritchard-Jones, R. Ladenstein, S. Essiaf, E. Fitzgerald, G. Petrarulo, G. Vassal - EJC , Volume 61, pp 11-19
8th December, 2014
The purpose of this website is to provide good and clear information about the long-term effects of childhood cancer and to refer to the various late-effects outpatient clinics (LATER outpatient clinics) that exist in the Netherlands.
8th September, 2015
Cancer in young people is rare, but it is still a major health issue in Europe. Each year, more than 6,000 young people in Europe die of cancer. There are more than 300,000 European childhood cancer survivors (in 2020, they will be nearly half a million): two-thirds of them have some late side effects of treatment, that are severe and impact on the daily life of half of those affected.
Hypofractionation is a method used in radiation therapy where the total dose of radiation is divided into large doses and treatments are given less often than traditional radiation therapy. This approach minimizes the treatment duration, potentially enhancing the convenience and effectiveness of the therapy.
Staggering advancements in medical science have revolutionized the approach to cancer treatment. A notable player in this arena is ‘Hypofractionation’. As a comprehensive treatment strategy, it is evermore essential to understand Hypofractionation holistically.
The cornerstone of radiation therapy lies in fractions. Essentially, fractionation in radiation therapy is breaking down the total dose of radiation into smaller doses (fractions) delivered over time.
The purpose of fractionation is to minimize injury to healthy tissues while delivering a lethal dose to cancer cells. It aims to strike a balance between maximizing cell death in tumors and minimizing damage to normal tissues.
Now, let’s delve into Hypofractionation. This term refers to radiation treatment administered in larger doses over fewer sessions than standard fractionation. In this process, each treatment fraction’s dose is higher, consequently reducing the total number of treatment sessions.
From the perspective of radiation therapy, Hypofractionation fits into clinical scenarios where more aggressive dose escalation might provide a clinical benefit. Also, it is useful in situations where the shortened treatment time offers improved patient comfort and convenience.
One of the main advantages of Hypofractionation is that it reduces the total treatment time. This can lead to a significant improvement in the patient’s quality of life, reducing hospital visits and travel time.
Moreover, Hypofractionation increases convenience for patients as there are fewer treatment sessions involved. Additionally, there is increasing evidence to suggest that Hypofractionation might result in greater tumor control in certain types of cancers.
The treatment, though beneficial, comes with potential drawbacks. With the increased potency of each treatment, there’s a risk of heightened side effects, requiring meticulous administration and exact dose delivery.
The precise delivery of treatment is paramount in Hypofractionation, where elevated doses could lead to substantial collateral damage to healthy tissues if not administered accurately.
Hypofractionation has found its place in treating different types of cancers. These include prostate cancer, breast cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer, among others. Clinical studies have reported favorable outcomes for these cancers with Hypofractionation.
For example, in treating early-stage breast cancer, Hypofractionation has resulted in similar cancer control and cosmesis as compared to conventional fractionation, yet with the added benefits of better convenience and potentially fewer side effects.
Traditional fractionation involves low-dose radiation therapy extended over a protracted period. Conversely, Hypofractionation uses high-dose radiation over a shorter span.
The appeal of Hypofractionation is the shortened treatment time, but this might increase the risk of short-term side effects compared to traditional fractionation. The choice between the two is best determined by the oncologist, who weighs the patient’s overall health, type and stage of cancer, and location of the tumor.
While Hypofractionation has certain drawbacks, the evidence points towards substantial clinical benefits. The method is fast evolving and is poised to pave the way to the future of cancer treatment.
Not necessarily. The decision to use Hypofractionation is based on the type and location of the cancer, the patient’s overall health, and clinical references.
A doctor will consider factors like the type and stage of cancer, the patient’s general health, and published clinical data while deciding on the appropriate treatment option.
Potential side effects can include increased short-term skin reactions and inflammation. The precise side effects would depend on the treatment site and dose.
No, Hypofractionation isn’t a new method, but increased precision in radiation therapy has allowed for its wider use in recent years.
Hypofractionation works by delivering higher doses of radiation in fewer sessions. The high-dose treatment destroys more cancer cells, halting their ability to grow and reproduce.
Share it
You might also like
Surviving Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Hope, Treatment, and Recovery
After her diagnosis of hormone-negative breast cancer, health journalist Patricia Prijatel did what any reporter would do: start investigating the disease, how it occurs, how it's treated, and how to keep it from recurring.
Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lesson
Maybe it was a grandparent, or a teacher, or a colleague. Someone older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and searching, helped you see the world as a more profound place, gave you sound advice to help you make your way through it.
Dying to Be Me: My Journey from Cancer, to Near Death, to True Healing
Anita Moorjani's memoir, "Dying to Be Me," is a deeply inspiring account of her extraordinary journey through illness, near-death, and profound self-discovery.
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End
Named a Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post, The New York Times Book Review, NPR, and the Chicago Tribune, "Being Mortal" is a poignant and enlightening exploration of the intersection between medicine and the inescapable realities of aging and death.
The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen: Nourishing, Big-Flavor Recipes for Cancer Treatment and Recovery
This new and revised edition of the IACP award-winning cookbook brings the healing power of delicious, nutritious foods to those whose hearts and bodies crave a revitalizing meal, through 150 new and updated recipes.
When Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, was asked to give such a lecture, he didnt have to imagine it as his last, since he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the lecture he gave, Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams, wasnt about dying.
