SRS Procedure – A Huge Success In Treatment Of Advanced Stage Cancers

SRS or Stereotactic Radiosurgery – a form of radiation technique initiated at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute or UPCI accurately conveys huge radiation dosages to tumors effectually allaying pain among those patients where the cancer had metastasized to the spine. This was revealed by the researchers at UPCI who carried out the study; the results of which are due to be presented during the yearly meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology or ASTRO in Chicago during the present week.

The study was helmed by the associate professor cum vice-chairman, Department of Radiation Oncology, Dwight E. Heron, M.D., drew comparisons between the efficacy of single and several sessions SRS treatment in curbing the pain among patients. Dr. Heron believes that cancers could swiftly metastasize to the bone, and the spine is the location wherein the maximum pain is experienced. Dr. Heron stated that traditional radiation therapy is not often effectual in allaying bone pain arising from the cancer that has spread to the spine. In those patients that had earlier undergone radiation, hardly any choices of effectual treatment existed.

The study analysed the results of 228 patients that underwent treatment with the assistance of SRS at UPCI and Georgetown University Medical Center or GUMC. Patients who underwent treatment at the UPCI were administered single session of SRS treatment whereas patients that underwent treatment at GUMC were usually administered 3 sessions of SRS treatment.

Both the sections of the study adeptly proved that SRS was a totally safe and effectual line of treatment among patients that had cancer which had metastasized to the bones, and even was effective among those patients that had earlier undergone radiation therapy to the spinal region.

Dr. Heron added that an astonishing aspect that came to light was that those patients that underwent just a single treatment felt quicker pain respite; however those that underwent 3 treatments felt relief from pain for protracted time spans. In addition, patients that underwent 3 treatments felt lesser requirement for being re-treated and had increased rates of survival.

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