Interventional oncology changes the way science, doctors are treating cancer

Global Business

Too many families around the world know all too well about the devastating impact cancer can bring.

In the U.S. alone, cancer is estimated to kill 600,000 people this year.

Recently, a new form of medical treatment called “interventional oncology” is pioneering the way doctors treat and eliminate cancer.

CCTV America’s Shraysi Tandon reports.

IO is a minimally invasive surgery done by interventional radiologists. Using images to identify tumors, radiologists are able to blast, shrink and remove tumors in various parts of the body.

The ability to do minimally invasive surgery means patients often times avoid undergoing big surgeries. Interventional oncology enables interventional radiologists all over the world to treat a range of cancers.

Earlier this year, President Barack Obama announced a $1 billion initiative to eliminate cancer. Known as the National Cancer Moonshot, the effort is designed to help doctors identify new ways in which they can prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.

While IO is not part of the National Cancer Moonshot initiative, doctors are optimistic it’s only a matter of time before they receive more government funding.

The challenge now for interventional radiologists is to play a more visible role, so that these pioneering healthcare professionals can get not just more recognition but also government support.

This statistic illustrates the estimated number of new cancer cases and deaths in the United States for 2015, by gender. For that year, it is estimated that there will be more than 810 thousand new cancer cases among U.S. women.

This statistic illustrates the estimated number of new cancer cases and deaths in the United States for 2015, by gender. For that year, it is estimated that there will be more than 810 thousand new cancer cases among U.S. women.