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Patient Info

What kind of tumours can be treated?

BNCT treatments are given at the moment mainly to patients suffering from cancer with clinical data and experience available from clinical BNCT studies.

These include:

  • Recurred head and neck cancer
  • Glioblastoma multiforme or anaplastic astrocytoma recurred after surgery and conventional radiation therapy

BNCT can be given case by case to patients when any other therapy is not possible or as an organ-friendly treatment:

  • As a primary therapy for large, inoperable head and neck tumours
  • Recurred meningeoma
  • Recurred melanoma or sarcoma of extremities

How to get BNCT treatment?

A referral letter, signed by a medical doctor or a hospital administrator is required.  The letter should be addressed to the Department of Oncology, Helsinki University Central Hospital (Address: Helsinki University Central Hospital, Department of Oncology, P.O. Box 180, FI-00029 HUS, Helsinki, Finland).  Should the patient be eligible for treatment, the Department of Oncology will mail the patient or the hospital a treatment agreement, which includes an estimation of the costs involved.  An advance payment will be requested.  If BNCT cannot be given for some reason, the payment will be refunded, except for the costs that have incurred from pre-treatment tests and visits.

Results of clinical trials

BNCT is often effective in the treatment of recurred head and neck cancer.  According to the first published results, the tumour decreased in size in approximately 80% of the patients. In some cases cancer disappeared completely, and no sign of tumour recurrence was seen during a follow-up period of two years or longer.  Thus far, (September 2010) over 100 patients diagnosed with recurred head and neck cancer have been treated with BNCT in Finland.

The most common immediate adverse side effects of BNCT resemble those of conventional radiation therapy.  These include transient inflammation or soreness of the mouth and the throat and difficulties in swallowing.  Later on, dryness of the mouth may develop.  Since BNCT is a new form of cancer treatment, all potential side effects may not yet be known.