The evolution of healthcare has been notable for many reasons. With the uprooting of our old methodologies, we have paved a new path for ourselves that promises much better results than any of the previous methods ever did. It isn’t just about bringing a new setup into the fold though. The new era of healthcare, which as we know seems to be driven by technology, is focused on functioning with the goals of continuous growth and collective benefit in sight. This characteristic of the new healthcare framework basically implies that we are no longer in those times where inventions were often followed by years of inaction. Today’s generation knows very well that doing that is the perfect route to stagnation. Hence, we are constantly looking for ways through which we can improve our arsenal, and consequentially, raise our ceiling. Even though this trait is shared by all the major sectors, the impact of it on medical sector in particular has been grand to say the least. It’s one thing to have new tools to work with; however by completely transforming the way an industry used to work, technology has set up an example for the ages. As a result of this transformation, we are now able to diversify our efforts, making sure that more and more people are reaping benefits out of these endless innovation drives. Our latest effort looks to be devoted to cancer treatment.
UT Southwestern Medical Centre of Texas has recently revealed details about a $71 million expansion plan of their radiation oncology services. However, the piece of news that really grabbed everyone’s attention was of a PULSAR radiation therapy in works. If reports are true, this therapy can prove to be much more effective in tumor control than the traditional daily therapy. Personalized Ultra-Fractionated Stereotactic Adaptive Radiotherapy, more popularly known as PULSAR, has got the world of medicine excited after it made just the right impression during clinical trials. As per the observations made during these trials, PULSAR clocked a significantly improved level of tumor control when a PD-L1 therapy was prescribed during or after radiation. An interesting finding that emerged from these trials was that this new therapy was effective even when prescribed with a 10 day window between the two sessions. This was very unlike of traditional treatment in this area that requires sessions pretty much every single day.
The PULSAR therapy sees the patient getting few large doses in one setting through image-guided precision. These doses are said to last for days, weeks, and even months at a time. With less therapy sessions required, PULSAR instantly becomes a far less toxic alternative for the patient. Furthermore, it also provides the oncologist with enough time to adjust the treatment and bring it more in line with how the tumor is shaping up.
