Oncology

Advanced treatment centres

Non-invasive medical technologies

Private medical centres

It then relays the surgeon's hand movements to the instruments, that have been inserted through small incisions in the abdomen. A tremor filter suppresses the trembling of the human hand and together these provide a high degree of precision.

Oncology

The main hospital treatments for oncology, which may be used alone or in combination, are listed below.

Surgery

Da Vinci robotic surgery

The word 'robotic' is commonly used but 'telemanipulation' is a more accurate term. The system displays internal images, giving the surgeon a three-dimensional view at up to ten times magnification.

The advantages are less pain, quicker mobility, shorter rehabilitation and minimal scar formation.

Surgery is often the preferred approach, where it is possible. This may be 'tradional' open surgery or minimally invasive, by laparoscopic techniques. For some types of cancer such as prostate cancer, it may be possible to use image-guided 'robotic' surgery and a number of centres worldwie have invested in the da Vinci® system.

Radio-oncology

There have been many advances in radiotherapy, making treatments shorter and more accurate and reducing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. See the Radiotherapy page for more details.

More recently radiosurgery has become available. This offers far greater accuracy and treatments as short as a single session in some cases, though it is not an option for all patients. The leading system is CyberKnife® and MHL offers an on-line enquiry service to a choice of CyberKnife centres. Visit the CyberKnife radiosurgery page for more details.

High Intensity Focussed Ultrasound (HIFU)

HIFU uses precision focussed ultrasound waves rather than radio waves, to locally heat the target area and destroy the tumour. The most common application is in prostate cancer but some centres around the world do now offer HIFU as an alternative to surgery or radio-oncology in a wider range of applications.

Depending upon the age and condition of the patient, not all cancers need to be treated immediately. Treatment may be avoided or delayed by the use of hormomal therapy.

Medical Oncology and Haematology

Drug based therapies may also be used to attack the tumour(s), either as a stand-alone treatment or as a prelude to radiotherapy or radiosurgery. New drugs are being developed continuously in order to find more effective treatmetns with fewer unwanted side-effects.

Leading treatment centres often have clinical trials of drugs that are not generally available elsewhere or they may be able to offer drugs that are not available in your own country.

Visit the Cancer Treatment Centres page.

Treatment Centres

Specialist treatments < Oncology

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