Targeting Cancer recently launched a social and traditional media campaign to raise community and healthcare professional awareness of stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR).

SABR is a revolutionary new treatment that can cure many early-stage cancers and control advanced disease.

As part of the campaign, Targeting Cancer committee co-chair, Dr Lucinda Morris, sat down with Professor Shankar Siva from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre for a video interview outlining the benefits of SABR.

Professor Siva is a global expert in novel applications of SABR and has led numerous national and international clinical trials in the use of SABR.

Most recently, the “FASTRACK II” trial, led by Professor Siva, demonstrated SABR has unprecedented effectiveness in curing primary kidney cancer.

“SABR or SBRT is a very advanced, even revolutionary, type of radiation therapy”, explained Professor Siva.

“It has so far shown exceptional outcomes and can be used in conjunction with or instead of systemic therapies.”

“It offers the patient a highly precise dose of radiotherapy that can be delivered in as little as one to five sessions rather than multiple sessions over weeks.”

“It is appropriate for patients with early-stage cancer or low-volume secondary spread, and has shown to cure cancers such as lung, prostate and kidney.”

Professor Siva also discussed SABR from the patient perspective.

“SABR is delivered in an outpatient clinic. No surgery is required meaning patients can drive-in and drive-out for treatment.”

“This is particularly helpful for those living outside of the city or for people who might still be working while undergoing care.”

“The side-effects in the short-term are minimal with the treatment both safe and effective.”

During the interview Professor Siva also advised patients to consider radiation therapy techniques if they are at the start of their cancer recovery journey.

“Radiation therapy treatments such as SABR can cure cancer by itself and should be considered for patients who are in the high-risk category for surgery due to comorbidities.”

“The clinical outcomes we have advanced to are exceptional.”

“It is a myth that radiation therapy is always second best to surgery, some patients will do better with radiation rather than surgery and vice versa.”

“I would recommend any patient who has sadly been diagnosed with cancer to talk to a radiation oncologist about what might be appropriate for their treatment.”