Cancer patients – in particular those suffering from bone cancer - can now reduce their dependence on analgesics and addictive painkillers thanks to a break-through method of pain management developed in Australia.
The treatment, registered under the name ‘Quadramet®’, is a radiopharmaceutical manufactured under licence by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).
According to Dr Stuart Carr, Director of ANSTO’s Radiopharmaceuticals Division, Quadramet® has already had great success in relieving pain in bone cancer sufferers and further clinical trials of the product are under way. Quadramet® provides significant pain relief that can last for about 16 weeks with one injection, and is therefore preferable to undertaking a programmed, daily regime of drug taking.
"In real terms this ‘medicine’ greatly improves the quality of life of cancer patients, particularly those in the advanced stages of breast or prostate cancer who have developed secondary cancers in the bone. The level of pain experienced by cancer sufferers at this stage, is extreme," Dr Carr said.
"It’s possible that, in the final stages of the disease, and with the subsequent pain experienced by the patient, extreme options such as euthanasia may be considered. Through long-term pain relief such as that offered by Quadramet, patients could retain personal dignity and pursue a range of lifestyle options.
There are around 10,000 new cases of breast cancer and 3,000 new cases of prostate cancer diagnosed in Australia each year.
About 20 per cent of all referrals for radiotherapy in Australia are for palliative bone pain relief. Eighty per cent of those cases involve the spread to the bone of breast, prostate or lung cancer.
The rate of secondary cancers is declining, thanks to earlier diagnosis and treatment, but breast cancer patients still have a 50 per cent chance of the disease spreading. The figure for prostate cancer stands at 20 per cent.
"Quadramet® has two components - a carrier molecule that seeks out bone cancer sites, and a radioactive material, o rtag, that kills the dividing cells in the tumours. The carrier molecule is similar to the minerals taken up by the body to form or repair bone.
"Basically, it zeros in on sites where bone is being repaired and delivers to the badjacent tumour cells beta radiation, which kills them", he said.
Quadramet®, is listed in the Medicare Benefits Schedule book, and will now be within the means of all Australians. Quadramet®, together with a large number of other radiopharmaceuticals, is produced at the Lucas Heights nuclear research reactor, HIFAR.
Published: 12/04/2001