Radiotherapy is a vital tool in the treatment of many different cancers but it can have unpleasant side-effects such as fatigue, soreness and nausea – and depending on the location of the tumour, a patient may suffer difficulty swallowing or breathing, or sight loss.
In the 100 years since its discovery, radiotherapy has dramatically improved the survival chances of cancer patients but there are still opportunities to improve it.
At the moment radiotherapy is often given in a one-size-fits-all approach rather than being individually tailored. Dr Somaiah’s research aims to calculate the optimum dose of radiation for different tumours which could lead to personalised treatment plans. These more accurate doses could make the treatment more effective and help minimise side effects.
Dr Somaiah works as both a scientist and a clinical doctor, working with patients in her clinics and cancer cells in her lab. This unique perspective inspires her to make radiotherapy treatments more effective and change the lives of patients worldwide.
Please help to support Dr Somaiah’s work