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There is a continuous increase in cancer cases all over the world. The risk of cancer has increased rapidly due to changing lifestyle, wrong eating habits and stress. Every year lakhs of people are falling prey to this disease, due to which the pressure on the health system is also increasing. In such a situation, whenever news of any new treatment or medicine related to cancer comes out, hope arises among the people. Meanwhile, there have been reports of the start of use of a new cancer treatment drug, Rakurs 223Ra, in Russia.
In such a situation, after this claim, the question has started to arise whether a serious disease like cancer can really be completely eradicated with just one medicine. Will this medicine be able to bring any major change in the treatment of cancer or are there limitations to its use. Let us know the complete truth related to this medicine.
What is Rakurs 223Ra and which cancer will it be used to treat?
Rakurs 223Ra is a radiopharmaceutical drug, developed in Russia. This medicine is not designed for all types of cancer, but especially for those patients whose prostate cancer has spread to the bones. In such cases, the patient experiences severe pain, weakness and difficulty in walking. Rakurs 223Ra is used to handle these complex situations.
This medicine contains a radioactive element called Radium-223, which works on the cancerous areas spread in the bones. Its objective is not to eradicate cancer from its roots, but to limit the effects of the disease and provide relief to the patient. Therefore, it is being seen as an adjunctive treatment and not as a complete cure for cancer.
How does Rakurs 223Ra work? Have trials been done on this medicine?
Rakurs 223Ra behaves like calcium in the body and reaches the bones directly. Where cancer has spread to the bones, this medicine releases alpha radiation, which damages the cancer cells. Its effect is in a limited area, due to which there is less damage to the surrounding healthy tissue.
Necessary clinical procedures have been completed on this medicine, after which it has been allowed for limited medical use in Russia. At present it is being used in special oncology centres. However, it is still not considered a definitive treatment for cancer.
Can one medicine completely cure cancer?
Dr. Rohit Kapoor, Oncologist at Max Hospital It is said that cancer is not a single disease but a group of many types of diseases. The nature, spread and treatment of every cancer is different. Therefore, it is not possible to completely eliminate all types of cancer with any one medicine. Medicines like Rakurs 223Ra can help handle serious conditions related to cancer.
This can reduce the patient’s pain, slow down the disease and improve the quality of life. But it would not be right to call it a permanent or complete cure for cancer. Experts believe that a combination of many methods is still necessary in the treatment of cancer.