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lungs via shutterstock

New treatment could drop recurrence by half for some lung cancer sufferers

A new radiation treatment could lengthen the lives of those suffering from small-cell lung cancer.

A NEW TREATMENT involving radiotherapy could see the lives of some lung cancer patients extended.

The new treatment makes advances to treatment of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) with thoracic (chest) radiation treatment.

The treatment, when used alongside standard methods, has been found to prolong long-term survival and reduce recurrence by almost 50%.

SCLC is an aggressive form of cancer and accounts for around 13% of all lung cancer cases.

The majority of patients who present with the aggressive disease find that it has spread to other areas of the body.

On the findings, Professor of Radiation Oncology Ben Slotman said, “Survival for patients with extensive disease remains poor (2-year survival of less than 5%) and the likelihood of the cancer recurring and spreading to other parts of the body remains high.”

The study involved research on 498 adult patients who were already responding to chemotherapy. The subjects were taken from the Netherlands, the UK, Norway and Belgium.

It was found that after two years 13% of patients treated with the thoracic radiotherapy treatment were alive compared to 3% of those given the standard follow up.

In terms of redeveloping the cancer, only 20% of patients treated with the radiotherapy treatment saw the cancer come back, while 46% of those who did not receive the treatment saw a recurrence.

Patients receiving the treatment did not experience toxic effects like fatigue or shortness of breath.

The authors of the paper propose that should the thoracic radiotherapy be well tolerated it should be offered extensively to sufferers of SCLC whose cancer responds to chemotherapy. 

This new research was carried out in the VU University Medical Centre in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The study was published this week in The Lancet and is being presented simultaneously at American cancer awareness group ASTRO’s 2014 annual meeting in San Francisco.

Read: 7 things every Irish man should know about cancer

Also: Irish charity to look at how aspirin could help breast cancer patients

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13 Comments
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    Mute Paul Murphy
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    Sep 15th 2014, 7:27 AM

    Excellent now a cure for all cancers please…

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    Mute Ciaran Whyte
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    Sep 15th 2014, 7:52 AM

    Not smoking would go a long way to preventing this one entirely

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    Mute Sean
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    Sep 15th 2014, 8:13 AM

    A lot of the cancer deaths you see in stats are smokers on 25 – 60 cigarettes a day. Ie extreme smokers. The average run of the mill smoker smokes 5 – 10 a day and generally wants no more bar social events. It’s still not ideal but it’s good to know

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    Mute Sean
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    Sep 15th 2014, 8:27 AM

    And I know 5-10 can become 40/day but a lot choose not to do that as well.

    Some reduce, some just do social smoking, some stay on 5- 10, some go up a bit and some quit. These by and large (not all) are not the smokers who cost the state money (even though the money is payed back in tax and more). They aren’t on 40 – 60/day which of course will be bad. No smoking is good but if you can keep it light it’s better.

    Just a random FYI for smokers instead of constant attacks

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    Mute datslimerickcity
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    Sep 15th 2014, 8:56 AM

    @Ciaran Whyte what an incredibly idiotic and insensitive comment. I really hope nobody you know gets such a horrible and extremely aggressive cancer like small cell or large cell carcinoma

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    Mute Liam Hussey
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    Sep 15th 2014, 8:54 AM

    There never will be a cure…to much $ to be made in the treatment.

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    Mute Loop De Loop
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    Sep 15th 2014, 9:03 AM

    Stupid comment. There are millions spent every year on cancer research.

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    Mute Liam Hussey
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    Sep 15th 2014, 9:20 AM

    Its an ‘industry’ folks, very sadly

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    Mute VinHeffer89
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    Sep 15th 2014, 9:33 AM

    He’s right, cynical but correct.

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    Mute Loop De Loop
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    Sep 15th 2014, 9:44 AM

    Right, so all those who are working on a cure will keep it secret if they find one ? Idiots…

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    Mute VinHeffer89
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    Sep 15th 2014, 1:57 PM

    You think people who have a vested interest in selling them drugs to prolong their lives want a cure? Idiot…

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    Mute Loop De Loop
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    Sep 15th 2014, 2:46 PM

    You’re the idiot. There are people actively working on cures for cancer and millions are spent on research every year. If and when a cure is found do you really think it will be kept quiet because of your ” vested interests ” ? Cop on to yourself you clown.

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    Mute Liam Hussey
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    Sep 15th 2014, 5:33 PM

    That so called cure is coming since the 1970′s…40 years a’comin and probably be another 40 years a’comin …billions $ in the treatment like i say…its big industry $ for big pharma

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