Question 1

Am I eligible for Lung SABR treatment?

Accepted Answer

Stereotactic Ablative Radiosurgery (SABR) is endorsed in international cancer guidelines as an alternative option to surgery in selected patients groups, such as those with early stage (stage 1 & stage 2) lung cancers, or at high operative risk. 
Patients wishing to find out more should consult a radiosurgeon (not thoracic surgeon) who will assess each case, taking into account patient, tumor and technical factors, to determine if SABR is appropriate. 
 
It is important to see the correct specialist with the pre-requisite training and expertise, so that the right assessment can be made, and treatment performed safely. 
 
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For further clarifications, do contact us at +65 8102 3838.

Question 2

What is the difference between Radiotherapy and Radiosurgery?

Accepted Answer

Radiosurgery packs all the dose usually given over 5-6 weeks, and gives it over 1-5 days.

The Radiosurgeon is a Radiation Oncologist who is trained in both radiotherapy, oncology, and the complex technologies used to deliver Radiosurgery. Since radiation is the ‘knife’ which ‘cuts’ the tumor, it is critical that the Radiosurgeon is well trained with radiation medicine.

Question 3

What is the difference between Proton Beam Therapy and Radiosurgery?

Accepted Answer

Radiosurgery and Proton Beam Therapy are both precision radiation therapies.

Radiosurgery avoids treating normal tissue by sophisticated beam shaping and modulation, while Proton Beam avoids treating normal tissue by reducing dose deposition during the exit of the beam. They can be used in combination, depending on the location of the target and the diagnosis of the patient.

Question 4

What are the risks of surgery?

Accepted Answer

In general, some of the potential risks and complications of lung cancer surgery may include:

Reactions to anaesthesia
Excessive bleeding
Damage to a lung, blood vessel, nerve or the heart
Blood clots in the lung or legs
Rarely, some people may not survive the surgery.

Recovering from lung cancer surgery typically takes weeks to months and your activity might be limited for at least a month or two.

Finally, in a proportion of patients, surgery may be incomplete and remnants of the tumour are left behind. In such situations, these patient will still require further radiation, resulting in them having to undergo 2 treatments instead of one.

Question 5

Is it true that if I have radiotherapy first, surgery will be impossible later?

Accepted Answer

It is not true that having radiation first will make surgery impossible in the future. In fact, in certain lung cancer situations, it is standard protocol to have radiation and/or chemotherapy before surgery, in order to shrink the tumour so it can be completely resected.

Moreover, with modern radiotherapy equipment & techniques, radiation oncologists are now able to precisely target the tumour while limiting damage to the surrounding tissues, thus minimizing the risk of complications from subsequent surgery.

It is therefore important to see a sub-specialized radiation oncologist and lung cancer surgeon, who are both confident of managing these situations.

Lung Cancer Treatment

We are dedicated to delivering personalized lung cancer treatment with a multi-disciplinary approach, ensuring the best possible outcomes for our patients.

About Asian Alliance Radiation & Oncology

Lung cancer is one of the MOST common cancers in Singapore and is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide.

In this modern era, scientific and technological advances have provided new treatments for lung cancer that are minimally invasive, precise, and with less side effects compared to conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and open surgery.

Comprehensive Lung Cancer Solutions

Our centre offers comprehensive solutions for lung cancer patients. Click to find out more.

Meet Our Lung Oncologist

Dr David Tan Boon Harn

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