Canada - Canadian first in the treatment of lung cancer: a demonstration of interdisciplinary cooperation

Citation

(2009), "Canada - Canadian first in the treatment of lung cancer: a demonstration of interdisciplinary cooperation", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 22 No. 7. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2009.06222gab.002

Canada - Canadian first in the treatment of lung cancer: a demonstration of interdisciplinary cooperation

Article Type: News and views From: International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Volume 22, Issue 7

Keywords: Quality of life improvement, Clinical trials, Healthcare research

London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and Lawson Health Research Institute (Lawson) are pleased to announce a Canadian first in the treatment of lung cancer. Surgeon and clinical researcher Dr Richard Malthaner and oncologist Dr Edward Yu removed a small wedge from Wes O’Grady’s lung and then applied a surgical mesh interwoven with brachytherapy seeds to where the lung was resected. Brachytherapy is the use of small radioactive seeds to treat cancer. They look like metallic grains of rice and the ones used in this operation are normally used to treat prostate, breast and skin cancers. This new treatment was done as part of a clinical trial at Lawson.

Dr Malthaner describes: “The current standard is to perform a lobectomy or the removal of a much larger section of lung and these patients suffer serious side effects like fatigue and shortness of breath which can really affect their quality of life. By removing a smaller part of the lung and adding the brachytherapy to kill stray cancer cells, we anticipate patients will be cured of their cancer and have a better quality of life after treatment”.

Adds Dr Yu: “Normally, our respective disciplines refer to one another but rarely do we have the opportunity to cooperate at this level and offer one treatment combining both the modalities of surgery and radiation”.

After receiving approvals to do the clinical trial and researching the procedure using Canadian Surgical Technologies and Advanced Robotics (CSTAR’s) surgical training facilities, Drs Malthaner and Yu sought funding for the brachytherapy seeds. The manufacturer Oncura Brachytherapy agreed to donate the seeds, not only for this operation but for all procedures done at LHSC as part of this clinical trial.

Mr O’Grady 83, of Windsor Ont. is recuperating normally from the operation and plans to resume team sports in the fall: “I am still a little sore around the ribs but otherwise I feel great”.

LHSC is the only Canadian hospital participating in this North American clinical trial.

For more information: www.lhsc.on.ca