When cancer spreads to the brain, it’s known as brain metastases, a condition that affects a significant number of cancer patients. While brain metastases can be a challenging diagnosis, Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) offers an advanced, highly effective treatment option. SRS delivers high-dose, precise radiation directly to metastatic tumours in the brain, providing excellent control of the disease with minimal side effects.
What Are Brain Metastases?
Brain metastases occur when cancer from another part of the body, such as the lungs, breast, or kidneys, spreads to the brain. These metastases are often a complication of advanced cancer and can lead to neurological symptoms, such as headaches, seizures, or cognitive issues, depending on the size and location of the tumours. Treating brain metastases effectively is crucial for maintaining the patient’s quality of life and prolonging survival.
How Does Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) Work?
Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) is a non-invasive treatment that uses highly focused beams of radiation to target tumours in the brain. Despite its name, SRS is not surgery in the traditional sense. Instead, it delivers a single or limited number of high-dose radiation treatments with sub-millimeter accuracy. This precision ensures that the radiation affects the tumour while sparing surrounding healthy brain tissue, reducing the risk of side effects.
SRS is typically completed in just one to five sessions, making it a convenient and time-efficient treatment option for patients. It’s particularly useful for patients with one to four brain metastases, but ongoing research suggests that it may also be beneficial for patients with more metastatic lesions.
Benefits of SRS for Brain Metastases
Stereotactic Radiosurgery offers several key benefits for treating brain metastases:
- High Precision: SRS uses advanced imaging and positioning technology to deliver radiation with sub-millimeter accuracy, focusing only on the tumour and sparing healthy brain tissue.
- Non-Invasive: Unlike traditional brain surgery, SRS is completely non-invasive, meaning there are no incisions, minimal recovery time, and reduced risk of infection or complications.
- Minimal Side Effects: The precision of SRS allows for effective tumour control with fewer side effects compared to whole-brain radiation, which can cause cognitive decline and fatigue.
- Convenient Treatment: SRS is often completed in a single session or a few treatments, providing a shorter, more convenient treatment course for patients.
Effectiveness of SRS in Treating Brain Metastases
Multiple studies have demonstrated the efficacy of SRS in controlling brain metastases. For example, a study published in The Lancet Oncology (link) found that SRS achieved local control rates of over 80%, meaning that it effectively halted tumour growth in the targeted areas.
Additionally, research has shown that SRS is especially effective when used in conjunction with other treatments, such as systemic therapies (e.g., immunotherapy or targeted therapies). This combination can enhance overall cancer control and extend patient survival.
The Role of SRS in Modern Cancer Care
As a non-invasive alternative to surgery, SRS plays a crucial role in modern cancer treatment. It is often used for patients who are not candidates for surgery due to the size or location of the tumours or other health issues. Additionally, SRS can be used in cases where cancer has spread to multiple sites in the brain, offering an effective, low-risk treatment option.
For many patients with brain metastases, SRS can help control the growth of metastatic tumours, reduce symptoms, and maintain cognitive function. In some cases, it may also be combined with whole-brain radiation for more extensive disease control, although this approach depends on the patient’s overall condition and treatment goals.
How Pinpoint Radiotherapy Can Help
At Pinpoint Radiotherapy, we specialise in delivering precise, advanced treatments like Stereotactic Radiosurgery for brain metastases. Our expert team uses the latest technology to tailor each patient’s treatment plan, ensuring that radiation is delivered with the utmost precision. We understand that every patient’s journey is unique, and we are committed to providing compassionate care that focuses on both the quality of life and effective disease management.
If you or a loved one is facing brain metastases and considering treatment options, contact Pinpoint Radiotherapy to learn more about how SRS can be part of your care plan. We’re here to support you with advanced, patient-centred care every step of the way.