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Are stage 4 cancers curable ?
B y D r T ang W e ng H e ng , C onsu l tant C l inic al O nc ol ogist and R adioth e r apist , I sl and H ospital
can be considered for surgery . Similarly , patients with limited lung , brain or ovarian metastases can be potential surgical candidates .
To ensure most optimal outcomes , cases are discussed in multidisciplinary meetings with various specialties including surgeons , oncologists , interventional radiologists and pathologists .
Shine For patients who are not surgical candidates , stereotactic radiotherapy is used to ablate ( shine ) the tumours in the brain , lungs , bones and sometimes liver .
Some cancers are particularly unique to South-east Asia region . For instance , nasopharynx cancer ( NPC ) has high incidence in this part of the world . �nlike other head and neck cancers , NPC affects younger population and is more likely to spread to lymph nodes . Post-pandemic , we see more patients with NPC having skull base involvement and sometimes , invasion into the brain . Thankfully , NPC is highly radio and chemosensitive tumour . The cure rate is very high , ranging from 70-90 %. Even patients with stage 4A disease can be potentially cured .
What can be done for patients , who are not candidates for surgery and stereotactic radiotherapy ?
The earlier the stage , the higher the cure rate . Nevertheless , some patients diagnosed with stage 4 cancers can be cured .
How are cancers staged ? Cancers are usually categorized from stage 1 to stage 4 , with stage 1 being the earliest stage with the best outcomes and stage 4 being the most advanced . Stage 4 cancers are further subdivided to 4A and 4B . Usually 4A refers to locally advanced disease , while 4B refers to cancers that have spread to other organs .
How do you cure stage 4 cancers ?
Excise Liver metastases , most commonly from colorectal cancers , can be surgically removed ( excised ). Advancement in surgical techniques ( e . g . key hole surgery ) and innovation of surgical tools ( e . g . robotic surgery ) translate into higher success rate and quicker recovery .
Traditionally , surgery was only offered to patient with solitary liver metastasis . Now , the boundary has been pushed . Patients who have multiple liver metastases but adequate liver remnant
Live in harmony We help patients to live with cancer . Like many chronic diseases , cancers are treatable . Among the newer treatment options are immunotherapy and targeted therapy . These newer methods are not just more effective , but also better tolerated . Immunotherapy harnesses own immune system ability , in particular the T-cells , to recognize and eliminate the tumour cells , foreign to our body . Meanwhile , targeted therapy , usually tailored according to individual patient tumour molecular profile , works by blocking certain cancer gene or mutation . With these treatments , patients can live longer and better while preserving quality of life .
Dr . Tang Weng Heng Consultant Clinical Oncologist & Radiotherapist Island Hospital
MBBS ( Mal ), Master of Clinical Oncology ( UM ) Specialty : Clinical Oncology
www . islandhospital . com / en / make-anappointment
Malaysia : + 604 238 3388
GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com ISSUE 2 | 2024
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