Optune At an Opportune Time
Optune At an Opportune Time
AN INNOVATIVE DEVICE IN THE BATTLE AGAINST BRAIN CANCER
Glioblastoma ( GBM ),
the most common and aggressive form of primary malignant brain tumors in the United States , affects approximately 12,500 Americans each year . Historically , the average overall survival from the time of first diagnosis is 15 months with treatment , and even shorter if it returns following treatment .
A major study published in the December 2015 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association indicated that a new medical device , Optune , increases the survival rates for newly-diagnosed adult GBM patients , and is as effective as chemotherapy for adults with recurrent GBM .
Optune , now offered at Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Flint , delivers frequency-specific , low intensity ,
alternating electric fields that interrupt cancer cell structures during division and can cause cancer cells to die . The portable device consists of a power pack worn on the body with transmitters that are applied to a shaved head . It is designed for continuous use ( at least 18 hours per day ).
The study stated newly - diagnosed GBM patients treated with the Optune system and chemotherapy experienced significantly improved survival rates . For recurrent GBM patients , the Optune device is used as an alternative to standard medical therapy after surgical and radiation options have been exhausted . The recurrent patients experience survival rates similar to that of chemotherapy , but with a better quality of life and fewer
“ The portable device
consists of a power pack worn on the body with transmitters that are applied to a shaved head .
“
side effects .
“ The benefit in survival is the largest we have seen in over a decade for this disease ,” stated Kiran Devisetty , MD , one of the three radiation oncology specialists at Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Flint , who has been certified to prescribe Optune .
Dr . Devisetty ; Hesham Gayar , MD ; and Jack Nettleton , MD ; are pleased to offer this additional treatment option to their patients with glioblastoma at the Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Flint .
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InnovativeHealthMag . com