Patients Suffering from Osteoarthritis Can Find Relief with Forrest General Cancer Center’s
Low Dose Radiation Therapy
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Do you have an arthritic knee that keeps you awake at night or prevents you from getting out and doing the things you enjoy? Does that pain also radiate into your hands, your hips, and your shoulders at times? You may be suffering from osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, affects approximately 32.5 million U.S. adults. It occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones wears down over time. Initial treatment typically involves pain medications and lifestyle measures, with surgery considered when symptoms worsen.
But Forrest General’s Cancer Center is now offering a safe and effective non-invasive treatment to ease your suffering – a single course of low-dose radiation therapy administered two times a week over three weeks. This alternative treatment provides a safe and effective method for battling this crippling ailment.
Treatment studies show patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis reported significant reductions in pain and improved physical function in the four months after receiving the low dose of radiation. The dosage is just a small fraction (less than 5%) of what is used to treat cancer and targets joints positioned away from vital organs, lowering the chance for side effects.
People who suffer from painful osteoarthritis and often face the choice of pain medications or joint replacement surgery, both with their own set of side effects. This treatment can serve as an alternative with longer lasting results. Results to date show that patients receive anywhere from 18 to 24 months of relief.
This treatment is best suited for patients with underlying inflammation and preserved joint structure. Radiation will not regenerate tissue where the joint is physically destroyed and cartilage is already gone. For people with mild to moderate disease, this treatment could delay the need for joint replacement.
Cancer Center radiation oncologist, Dr. Joseph Salloum, will be offering the service. Patients who feel they are a good candidate for this treatment only need a referral from their physician.
For more information, talk to your physician about a referral.
