Articles reported in several UK newspapers today regarding work done at Leicester University. Giving some cancer patients radiotherapy later in the afternoon could reduce their risk of side effects, researchers have found.
Breast cancer patients who are night owls could be left with fewer painful lumps and scarring, and prostate cancer patients less incontinence, bleeding or diarrhoea.
And scientists say a test could reveal whether someone is a morning or night person and allow doctors to tailor their treatment to suit them.
People genetically inclined to be more active later in the day could suffer fewer side effects if given their treatment after lunch, research found.
Radiotherapy given to cancer patients could produce fewer crippling side effects if it is given to people at a time when they are naturally more active – so in the afternoon for people who are genetically predisposed to be late risers.
Radiotherapy given to cancer patients could produce fewer crippling side effects if it is given to people at a time when they are naturally more active – so in the afternoon for people who are genetically predisposed to be late risers.
A study led by the University of Leicester followed 4,000 patients and tested their blood in a study which successfully predicted the severity of their side effects.
Scientists can test whether someone is a morning or evening person by looking for certain gene variations, known as PER3 and NOCT, The Times reported.
'We know that patients vary in the way they respond to radiation treatment — but we don’t have a reliable way of identifying these patients,' said lead researcher Dr Chris Talbot, from the University of Leicester.
Help with managing side effects from radiation therapy.
radiotherapy to the prostate if metastasized out side of the prostate.
treatment side effects vs cancer side effects 
with drawl side effects or new side effects 
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