HEALTH AND WELLBEING
How innovations in proton beam therapy is changing the face of cancer care in Britain By Professor Karol Sikora
benefits of proton therapy whilst making the whole experience easier for patients. Recently, demand for proton therapy – a specialised form of radiotherapy – has surged, with the UK now a key provider of this advanced treatment. In contrast to conventional radiotherapy, proton therapy delivers beams of protons which are more targeted, reducing damage to peripheral tissue and organs. Capacity to treat patients with proton therapy in the UK has gone from zero to thousands within three years, with the Rutherford Cancer Centres, which has a centre in Liverpool, now the biggest provider in the country. We got to that point through innovation.
Every day, we innovate. In medicine, we are always looking to improve our capacity to treat, and ultimately cure. When it comes to treating cancer, approximately 50 per cent of patients will undergo radiotherapy during their illness. The method in which they receive this, however, constantly changes.
The UK has been leading the international community in how we deliver proton therapy too. The Rutherford has introduced a technique called hypofractionation – the process of delivering higher doses of radiation per fraction, and using fewer daily fractions – to vastly reduce the duration of treatment for patients, according to new clinical evidence. As a result, we gain the
The technique itself is not new. Hypofractionation is commonly used for conventional radiotherapy. By combining this method with proton therapy, in some prostate cancers we have been able to cut down a treatment plan which would traditionally have consisted of 37 sessions over seven and a half weeks to just seven sessions over two and a half weeks. In a breakthrough in the treatment of some breast cancers too, using hypofractionation we can potentially cut the standard treatment plan of 25 fractions over five weeks to just five fractions over a week. Currently, we are the only centre in the world to use that regime for protons. Proton therapy has radically changed how we treat cancer, and by increasing our capacity and developing new delivery methods, we are able to push and position the UK as a leader in the innovation in cancer care. Find our more at www.therutherford.com
Are you worried about the long-term effects of COVID-19 on your body? The virus causing COVID-19 is known to affect different parts of the body and recovery time is unique to everyone. Many people do feel better in a few days or weeks but for some, symptoms can last longer. When we talk about ‘Long Covid’, we refer to the condition where people still experience symptoms of the virus within weeks or even months after their isolation period. Symptoms can be anything from profound fatigue, breathlessness and chest, joint and muscle pain to serious issues involving deficits in cardiac, kidney and liver function. Two years in to the pandemic, we are still learning new things about the virus including the long-term effects on a person’s health. Details of Long Covid and its effects on health are still emerging, though research suggests 1 in 5 people who test positive for COVID-19 have symptoms for 5 weeks or longer. For around 1 in 10 people, they last 12 weeks or longer and those with mild symptoms at first have been known to have extended health problems. What we do know about Long Covid is that it is complex, individual, unpredictable, and non-linear. To minimise the long-term impact, a health check is essential to devise
20
a structured and personalised management plan. A Randox Health Long Covid Health Assessment can detect antibodies protecting you from COVID-19 as well as monitoring how well you have recovered post-infection. This is done via a simple blood sample collected by a trained professional at our Randox Health Clinic on Tithebarn Street, Liverpool. We can’t change the fact you have had COVID-19, but this assessment will keep you well informed of vital areas such as heart health, kidney health and tissue damage as well as gaining a deeper understanding of your overall health.
To book a Randox Health Long Covid Health Assessment, contact the Liverpool team today on 0800 2545 130 or email liverpool.reception@randoxhealth.com for more information.
