The Cancer Department, also known as the Oncology Department, specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of various types of cancer. This department is dedicated to providing comprehensive care to cancer patients through a multidisciplinary approach, involving oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, and specialized nurses. The Cancer Department typically offers services across several key areas:
Medical Oncology
- Chemotherapy: Administration of drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy can be used as a primary treatment or in combination with surgery or radiation.
- Targeted Therapy: Treatment that uses drugs to target specific genes or proteins that are involved in cancer cell growth and survival.
- Immunotherapy: Boosting the body’s immune system to fight cancer, often through drugs that help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.
- Hormonal Therapy: Treatment that blocks or lowers the amount of hormones in the body to slow down or stop the growth of hormonesensitive tumours, such as some breast and prostate cancers.
- Management of Side Effects: Providing support for managing side effects of cancer treatments, such as nausea, fatigue, and hair loss.
Radiation Oncology
- External Beam Radiation Therapy: Using high-energy beams, like X-rays, to destroy cancer cells. It is commonly used for many types of cancer, often as part of a curative or palliative treatment plan.
- Brachytherapy: A form of radiation treatment where radioactive sourcesis placed directly into or near the tumour, allowing for high doses of radiation with minimal impact on surrounding healthy tissue.
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS): A non-surgical, precise radiation therapy used primarily for small brain tumours and other areas where high precision is required.
- Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT): Advanced radiation techniques that allow the radiation dose to conform more precisely to the three-dimensional shape of the tumour.
Surgical Oncology
- Tumour Resection: Surgical removal of cancerous tumours from the body. The goal can be curative, palliative, or to reduce tumour size before additional treatments.
- Minimally Invasive Surgery: Techniques such as laparoscopy or robotic surgery to remove tumours with minimal impact on the patient's body, reducing recovery time and complications.
- Reconstructive Surgery: Post-cancer surgery to restore function or appearance, often following procedures like mastectomy for breast cancer.
Haematology Oncology
- Blood Cancers: Diagnosis and treatment of blood-related cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.
- Bone Marrow Transplant: Replacing damaged or destroyed bone marrow with healthy bone marrow stem cells, often used for patients with blood cancers or severe blood disorders.
- Management of Blood Disorders: Treating conditions related to abnormal blood cells or clotting disorders, often associated with cancer or cancer treatments.
Paediatric Oncology
- Childhood Cancers: Specialized care for cancers that occur in children, such as leukaemia, neuroblastoma, and Wilms tumour.
- Family Support Services: Providing emotional, psychological, and logistical support to families during their child’s cancer treatment journey.
- Long-Term Follow-Up: Monitoring and managing the long-term effects of cancer treatment in children as they grow.
Palliative Care
- Pain Management: Controlling cancer-related pain through medications, procedures, and complementary therapies.
- Symptom Management: Addressing symptoms like nausea, breathlessness, and fatigue to improve quality of life.
- Emotional and Spiritual Support: Offering counselling and support to patients and families to help cope with the emotional challenges of cancer.
Preventive Oncology
- Screening Programs: Regular screening tests for early detection of cancers, such as mammograms for breast cancer, colonoscopies for colorectal cancer, and Pap smears for cervical cancer.
- Cancer Risk Assessment: Genetic counseling and testing for hereditary cancer syndromes provide risk-reduction strategies for high-risk patients.
- Vaccination Programs: Vaccines like the HPV vaccine are administered to prevent cancers linked to viruses.
