Interventional oncology
Interventional oncology treats tumours through needles and catheters instead of open surgery. Options include hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) delivered straight into the liver’s artery, irreversible electroporation (IRE) that uses electrical pulses near blood vessels, and heat or cold ablation.
Who it may suit
- Liver cancer or liver metastases that cannot be removed by surgery
- Pancreatic tumours wrapped around blood vessels (IRE)
- Small tumours in the lung, kidney or bone (ablation)
What happens
- Review of scans and blood tests
- Planning with the interventional team
- Procedure under local or general anaesthesia
- Short hospital stay; HAIC is repeated over several cycles
1 to 3 weeks per course. HAIC may need repeat cycles.
HAIC is rarely offered in Canada. IRE is available at only a few centres.
Things to know. Risks include bleeding, pain and effects on liver function. Not every tumour is suitable.
Why an introduction matters
Many of China’s leading specialists work in busy public hospitals without international patient offices. They rarely answer enquiries from abroad directly, and a file sent without an introduction often goes unread. Cases usually reach them through people they already know and trust. Our team on the ground makes that introduction, presents your case properly in Chinese, and follows up until you have an answer.
Some programmes, especially stem-cell and other cell treatments, are experimental. We introduce them only if you ask and your own specialist agrees, and we never describe them as cures.