The BC Cancer Foundation is conducting a trial at BC Cancer Victoria to reduce prostate cancer radiation therapy visits from five to two, starting in Dec. 2024.

害羞草研究所淚 can害羞草研究所檛 overstate how much progress has been made,害羞草研究所� said Doctor Abraham Alexander, a radiation oncologist at BC Cancer Victoria. 害羞草研究所淚t really is fantastic to see.害羞草研究所�

In Alexander害羞草研究所檚 18 years at BC Cancer, a lot of progress has been made in cancer diagnosis, and the treatment options for even the most dangerous have improved.

害羞草研究所淧eople, particularly with prostate cancer, and melanoma, lung cancer, survival rates, are just so much better,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲hen I started, you know, people with melanoma that spread often didn害羞草研究所檛 live very long, with survival rates of like a year.害羞草研究所�

BC Cancer had completed research that initially saw the number of visits for chemo from over 20 to five, according to Alexander.

害羞草研究所淲e were able to give the treatment in five treatments with as little or even fewer side effects as the standard treatment,害羞草研究所� he said.

The new trial will run for eight years, and according to Alexander, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the latest research.

害羞草研究所淢any of these patients, with our advanced treatments, live five or 10 years more.害羞草研究所�

Alexander works alongside a team of six oncologists, two or three medical physicists, 10 radiation therapists and four or five nurses at BC Cancer Victoria.

害羞草研究所淚t ends up being quite a large team because it takes a lot of expertise and different disciplines to deliver these treatments.害羞草研究所�

Alexander害羞草研究所檚 research was only possible with community engagement, and he said he is fortunate to have the support he has in Victoria.

The trials are randomized, and patients undergoing standard treatments can be allowed to participate in the clinical trials offered by BC Cancer.

害羞草研究所淲e couldn害羞草研究所檛 make our humans better without people enrolling in trials, and clinical trials are a really important part of what we do,害羞草研究所� he said.

Part of the research saw BC Cancer incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) that would allow researchers to assess the amount of radiation that is being delivered into the body, Alexander said.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e hoping by applying AI to target the radiation better, we害羞草研究所檒l be able to, you know, further reduce the side effects of the treatment.害羞草研究所�

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