Dr. Malcom Feigen of the Austin Health Centre in Victoria, Australia, is a Radiation Oncologist who has been researching new mesothelioma treatment techniques for the past seven years. His research has led to the development of a high dosage radiation treatment that achieves impressive results in treating mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos, in patients that qualify for the treatment. Dr. Feigen attributes much of the success of his research to new developments in both equipment and technology in the last several years which facilitate the administration of radiotherapy in a far more diligent and meticulous manner than in the past.
The research study that was recently completed included thirteen patients who were also treated either surgically or with chemotherapy. Dr. Feigen and his team’s research shows that While patients treated exclusively with radiotherapy show some short term benefits, the cancer tends to return in the long term. The most effective treatment often consists of a combination of multiple types of treatment, including the new high dosage radiotherapy regiment.
In regards to the newly developed treatment techniques Dr. Feigen said, “… we’ve been very impressed that in most cases there’s a considerable improvement in the activity of the tumour masses that we’ve given high doses of radiotherapy. And most patients have got through the course of treatment with no major side effects and some have had long-term benefits.”
The new radiotherapy technique shows considerable improvements in keeping cancerous tumors suppressed. Dr. Feigen explained that “Some patients go on to have a number of good years before sometimes the tumour comes back in areas that we haven’t been able to give radiotherapy to… …Some have had chemotherapy before they see us or afterwards and that does provide an additional benefit, but not always, and we think that most of the symptoms are relieved more effectively by high doses of radiotherapy than these other alternatives.”
The study shows that the new method may help some patients to live up to two years longer, which may be enough time for further developments in the field to occur. Professor Ian Olver, the CEO of the Cancer Council of Australia, commented on this discovery of the effectiveness of combined therapies, saying “I think it’s an important finding that radiation has a useful role along with other therapies, not so much on its own, so they’ve really found the niche for radiotherapy in this disease.”
Next week, Dr. Feigen will present his findings to a national oncology conference. He hopes to rally support for his work and gain allies in furthering the research.
