Us -Too! Brampton General Meeting 
November 9 th, 2004.

"Radiation therapy for Prostate
Cancer - New Approaches"
Dr. Padraig Warde
Associate Director Radiation Medicine Program
Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto

This superbly delivered and highly informative session by Dr. Padraig Warde
attracted a crowd of some 75 members, wives and guests.

Dr. Warde provided a magnificently executed session, engrossing and informative, while translating
the technology into the realm of the lay man. Using detailed color images, animated graphics
and embedded videos in his presentation Dr. warde educated members on much of the new
radiation technology, helping to eliminate any "fear factor " about the high technology involved.
This session would have greatly benefited any new members opting for Radiation.



Dr. Warde explained how many of the exciting new Radiation approaches and
breakthroughs were offering hope and better outcomes. Opening the session Dr. Warde
explained that Radiation damages the chromosomes of a cell, prevents cell division
and growth and affects both cancer and normal cells. He then went to making a
profound statement "that given enough dosage he could cure any cancer - the problem
was keeping the patient alive afterwards". This is exactly the goal made achievable
by the new Technologies - Increasing the dose of radiation to the prostate while
protecting the normal healthy tissues around it.

In the past, the main diagnostic tool was X -Ray imaging while Radiation used standard
fields and shapes. Over the last 10 - 15 years, however, many "New Toys" have become
available to the medical professionals.

Today's sophisticated diagnostic tools include CT scanning and MRI, while radiation
techniques have evolved to Individualized field shapes and arrangements and Intensity
Modulated Radio-Therapy (IMRT). Thus each treatment is tailor made specifically to the
individual. These recent advances in Technology coupled with the use of computers
make possible very precise delivery of the Radiation to the cancer cells while shielding
the healthy cells. The new radiation techniques not only permit increasing the radiation
dosage to the target area but further enhancements can locate and track precisely,
in 'real time' the prostate position during and at each session. Accuracy of the order of a
few millimeters was thus achievable and was getting better as Technology improved.

Amongst the topics Dr. Warde covered include: IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation therapy)
and 3-D conformal Radiation Therapy, a technique which allowed to conform the volume
irradiated closely to the cancer to be achieved.

He went on to presenting statistical data and results of treatment with these new approaches.
The data showed that new Technologies have Reduced toxicity of RT while at same
time allowed dose increase by up to approximately 25% [PMH 1996 : 65 Gy;
PMH 1997-2000: 75.6 Gy (16.3% increase); PMH 2001-2004: 79.8 Gy (22.8% increase)]
Further improvements are envisaged in the future as benefits from the latest research are deployed.

Dr. Warde touched on much of the leading edge research, taking the audience
into 'Technologies Front Yard' and explaining the shape of things to come.

Dr. Warde fielded many questions and concerns from the audience. On the issue of funding
he cautioned that funding for Prostate Cancer Research remained a major concern,
specially in view of the many recent cut backs. Members are encouraged and advised to
write to their MP's to support Prostate Cancer programs. The intent, clearly, is not to detract
from other programs but rather to uplift Prostate Cancer Research to an equal footing.

For those who missed this superb session or want to revisit the information we are pleased
to offer secure download of the slides as well as a streaming Audio files of the session.

"Radiation Therapy for Prostate
Cancer - New Approaches"
by Dr. Padraig Warde


(File size: 17.9 MB (18,829,252 bytes), Pages: 31)
Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher)

This is a Secure Printer Friendly Acrobat (.pdf) version of the presentation.
The file has been slightly modified to reduce the file size,
even so it is quite a large download due to the many graphics.
If you experience difficulty downloading please email:

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