Head and Neck Cancer: The Urgency of a Coordinated Plan

Head and neck cancer demands swift decisions and a highly synchronized team. In Costa Rica, patients facing this diagnosis require an organized approach in which surgery, chemotherapy, and Radiation Oncology collaborate from the beginning. The reason is simple: the disease may progress quickly and affect essential functions such as speech, swallowing, or breathing. When the […]

Understanding How Cancer Responds to Radiotherapy: What Alpha and Beta Mean

When someone receives radiotherapy, the goal is to destroy cancer cells while protecting healthy tissues. However, not all tumors react in the same way to radiation. Some are very sensitive and controlled with small doses, while others need higher or more concentrated doses to achieve the same effect.Researchers from the Academic Medical Center of Amsterdam […]

Making Up for Missed Radiotherapy Sessions: How We Keep Your Treatment on Track

In Radiation Oncology, every treatment session is part of a carefully planned sequence designed to destroy cancer cells while allowing healthy tissues to recover. When a session is missed—because of illness, equipment issues, or personal reasons—the total treatment time can be extended, which may reduce the overall effectiveness of therapy. In a landmark study published […]

Radiotherapy During COVID-19: Why Every Session Still Matters

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted cancer care worldwide. Many radiotherapy treatments were unexpectedly interrupted as patients and healthcare workers had to isolate. In their study published in Radiation Physics and Chemistry, Professors R. G. Dale and B. Jones analyzed how these interruptions affected cancer control and what could be done to minimize the impact. They found that each […]

Why Interruptions in Radiotherapy Must Be Avoided: Lessons from International Clinical Guidelines

In curative radiotherapy, every treatment session is part of a carefully planned schedule aimed at destroying cancer cells while protecting healthy tissues. The 2019 Clinical Guidelines from the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) emphasize that continuity of treatment is essential for the success of cancer therapy. Based on over four decades of radiobiological evidence, the RCR guidelines […]

Why Finishing Radiotherapy Without Breaks Is So Important in Head and Neck Cancer

In Radiation Oncology, consistency is everything. Radiotherapy aims to destroy cancer cells while protecting healthy tissue. But when treatment is interrupted or delayed, tumor cells can start growing again, reducing the chance of cure. A study published in the Bengal Journal of Cancer analyzed the effects of unscheduled treatment gaps in patients with head and neck cancer. Researchers from […]

Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy: An ASTRO/ASCO/SSO Clinical Practice Guideline

Postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) has emerged as a cornerstone in the comprehensive management of breast cancer, particularly for patients at high risk of locoregional recurrence. The updated clinical guideline jointly issued by ASTRO, ASCO, and SSO provides an evidence-based framework addressing indications, treatment volumes, dose-fractionation regimens, and technical approaches. The guideline underscores that PMRT significantly […]

Stereotactic Body Radiation therapy for Liver Metastases: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis With International Stereotactic Radiosurgery Society (ISRS) Practice Guidelines

Liver metastases remain one of the most challenging scenarios in modern oncology. Surgery has long been regarded as the gold standard, yet most patients are deemed ineligible due to comorbidities or technical constraints. Over the past two decades, stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has emerged as a noninvasive alternative, capable of delivering ablative doses of […]

Oral Bacterial and Fungal Microbiome and Subsequent Risk for Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide, with five-year survival rates below 15%. Its diagnosis is often delayed, which severely limits the chances of curative treatment. Traditionally, risk factors such as smoking, obesity, chronic pancreatitis, and certain genetic syndromes have been recognized, but these account for less than 30% of cases. Therefore, […]