{"id":4040,"date":"2013-05-22T09:25:37","date_gmt":"2013-05-22T09:25:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disnaija.com\/nigeria-news\/japan-hospital-tests-powerful-breast-cancer-therapy\/"},"modified":"2013-05-22T09:25:37","modified_gmt":"2013-05-22T09:25:37","slug":"japan-hospital-tests-powerful-breast-cancer-therapy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disnaija.com\/japan-hospital-tests-powerful-breast-cancer-therapy\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan hospital tests powerful breast cancer therapy"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

A Japanese cancer specialist said Wednesday she has started the world’s first clinical trial of a powerful, non-surgical, short-term radiation therapy for breast cancer.<\/p>\n

The National Institute of Radiological Sciences has begun the trial using “heavy ion radiotherapy” which emits a pinpoint beam that can be accurately directed at malignant cells, said Kumiko Karasawa, radiation oncologist and breast cancer specialist.<\/p>\n

The study was launched amid renewed global interest in breast cancer and its treatment after Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie revealed she had undergone a preventative double mastectomy.<\/p>\n

Heavy ion radiotherapy has proved effective in combating other forms of cancer that have not spread, Karasawa said.<\/p>\n

“We are able to conduct this trial because we have greater understanding of what types of breast cancer can benefit from this pinpoint treatment,” Karasawa told AFP. <\/p>\n

\"Kumiko <\/p>\n

Kumiko Karasawa: new therapy for breast cancer<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Development of medical apparatus that keeps soft breast tissue immobile for this treatment has also helped, she added.<\/p>\n

Japan is a leader in the technology used in the treatment, and is home to three of the world’s six medical centres that have the gigantic 10-billion-yen ($ 97.2 million) facilities, Karasawa said.<\/p>\n

The therapy has proved its worth on other forms of cancer, including prostate and lung, Kyodo News said, but has never before been used on breast cancer.<\/p>\n

Conventional radiotherapy uses X-rays and gamma rays that are most potent at the surface of the body, but weaken as they travel deeper into the tissue.<\/p>\n

Heavy ion particle beams maintain their strength to a much greater depth.<\/p>\n

In the trial, Karasawa will treat a total of 20 patients aged at least 60 and with small tumours that have not spread.<\/p>\n

The patients will go through an hour of therapy per day for four days, much shorter than conventional radiation therapy that may last for months, Karasawa said.<\/p>\n

The trial will follow the patients for five years to assess the outcome, she said.<\/p>\n

“Ultimately, this could provide an option for patients who do not want surgery and who cannot go through (common radiation therapy) requiring regular visits to clinics for months,” she said.<\/p>\n

Japan, which has a high-quality medical system, has a good track record with breast cancer, giving patients a 90 percent five-year survival rate.<\/p>\n

Localised and less invasive medical treatments are increasingly important as ageing Japan tries to reduce the physical burden for patients, the national institute said in a statement.<\/p>\n

<\/img> <\/img> <\/img> <\/img> <\/div>\n

——————————————————————————————————————————————-
Posted in Nigeria News. <\/a>A DisNaija.Com<\/a> network.<\/p>\n

Source: PM News<\/p>\n

DisNaija.Com<\/b> publishes regular posts on Nigeria News,<\/a> Nigerian Newspapers,<\/a> Online Nigeria Gist.<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow us on Twitter<\/a> and Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

Nigeria News<\/a>
\n
\nFollow @Dis_Naija<\/a>
\n