HEALTHY LIFESTYLE · JULY 2017
Technology alone won ’ t cure cancer , but new innovations and approaches are helping patients win the fight against cancer . Advancements like robotic surgery and innovative treatments like immunotherapy are among the many approaches improving quality of life during and after cancer treatment . This leap to next-generation cancer care has the ability to greatly improve outcomes and the overall patient experience . Let ’ s take a look at some of the leading-edge treatments and approaches to care that are revolutionizing cancer care .
As technology advances , the way patients receive cancer care is changing . It ’ s no longer only chemotherapy infusions and radiation treatment . Even those treatments are advancing , with some chemotherapy given as an oral pill , and proton therapy offering an advanced form of radiation treatment .
Immunotherapy is another innovative treatment type . Our immune systems help us fight infection and disease . Cancer care directly impacts and generally weakens our immune systems . Immunotherapy uses the body ’ s own defense mechanisms , including the immune system , to fight cancer at the cellular level . This advanced treatment is used for many types of cancer .
Combination therapies — the use of more than one therapy option to , for example , combat drug resistance and increase the benefits to the patient — is also on the rise . Thanks to advances in research and clinical trials , we are learning more about new combination drugs therapies and how they can positively impact patients undergoing cancer treatment . Moreover , a patient may be presented with an opportunity to use multiple treatment options together as opposed to relying solely on only one treatment option . An example of this is a breakthrough drug that may be best combined with a more traditional chemotherapy treatment option .
Equally as promising as leading-edge innovations in cancer treatment are technologies that improve the patient
REVOLUTIONIZING THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE THROUGH NEXT- GENERATION CANCER CARE
experience . Cancer treatment can have numerous side effects on a patient , both physical and emotional . One new therapy to help mitigate the side effect of hair loss is called a cooling system , or a “ cooling cap .” This technology was created to cool the scalp during chemotherapy treatment . As the cap cools the scalp , it tightens blood vessels and reduces the amount of chemo that impacts the hair follicles . In turn , patients are able to reduce hair loss that occurs as a result of chemotherapy .
Innovative technologies and treatment options will propel us into the next generation of cancer care . At Texas Oncology we take a holistic approach to care that marries leading-edge technology and treatment with our adoption of a team-based approach to care . Patients are guided by our experts from the earliest days of their cancer journey . Whether it ’ s after-hours care coordination , patient navigation , emotional support or treatment planning , our oncology care team plays an important role in surrounding our patients with the support they need . These trusted members of the care team guide patients through every aspect of their treatment .
The innovative advances driving the leap forward in care provide access to an array of patient-focused services that improve outcomes and the patient experience . These leading principles culminate in a patient-first , compassionate model of care at the heart of Texas communities .
We take this approach to cancer care at every one of our clinic locations , whether you are in Houston , Dallas , Amarillo , or somewhere in between . I ’ m excited about the future of cancer care and proud to be a part of the revolutionary approaches we are embracing at Texas Oncology .
NURUL WAHID , MD
Nurul Wahid , M . D ., is a medical oncologist at Texas Oncology – McAllen , 1901 South 2nd Street in McAllen , Texas . To learn more about exciting advancements in cancer treatment , visit www . TexasOncology . com or call 1-888-864-I CAN ( 4226 ).
24 HEALTHY MAGAZINE