(Part 1) The “Defanging and Taming” of the Cancer Beast
Publish date：2021-10-26
Cancer has long been equated to severe suffering and rapid death, and for many people, this association has remained strong – like a terrifying mythical beast belonging to the realm of nightmares.
Multiple remarkable scientific breakthroughs in modern medicine over the past two decades has gradually transformed the outlook for many cancers.
It is therefore worthwhile to review what has been achieved, and what is about to come and see how this has impacted the outlook for many cancers.
Improving the outcome of cancer takes a multi-pronged approach:
- Early detection and diagnosis ensures higher chance of cure.
- Improved understanding of cancer biology allows development of more effective drugs: better efficacy and less side effects (target therapies)
- New approaches and modalities to cancer therapy opens new avenues (immunotherapy, particle therapy, immune-drug conjugates, treatment fields)
- Combining different treatments in more effective synergistic ways. (IO+chemo, IO+target, Target+chemo)
- Improving technology in radiotherapy and surgery (proton, heavy ion, minimally invasive surgery, robotic surgery)
- More effective supportive treatments lessen side effects (anti-emetics, Growth-factors)
- Better tools to evaluate cancers – imaging and characterization.
In this series of articles, we shall look into each of these areas in more detail in our subsequent articles.
Source: Clinical Oncologist, Dr. Conrad Lee
Multiple remarkable scientific breakthroughs in modern medicine over the past two decades has gradually transformed the outlook for many cancers.
It is therefore worthwhile to review what has been achieved, and what is about to come and see how this has impacted the outlook for many cancers.
Improving the outcome of cancer takes a multi-pronged approach:
- Early detection and diagnosis ensures higher chance of cure.
- Improved understanding of cancer biology allows development of more effective drugs: better efficacy and less side effects (target therapies)
- New approaches and modalities to cancer therapy opens new avenues (immunotherapy, particle therapy, immune-drug conjugates, treatment fields)
- Combining different treatments in more effective synergistic ways. (IO+chemo, IO+target, Target+chemo)
- Improving technology in radiotherapy and surgery (proton, heavy ion, minimally invasive surgery, robotic surgery)
- More effective supportive treatments lessen side effects (anti-emetics, Growth-factors)
- Better tools to evaluate cancers – imaging and characterization.
In this series of articles, we shall look into each of these areas in more detail in our subsequent articles.
Source: Clinical Oncologist, Dr. Conrad Lee
