The London Clinic has become the first private hospital in the UK to offer access to a new non-invasive treatment for non-melanoma skin cancers, Rhenium-SCT.
Developed in Germany by the medical device and radiochemical company OncoBeta, the treatment uses the chemical element rhenium to deliver a controlled dose of radiation to the skin surface, treating superficial skin cancers precisely, painlessly and effectively, with 98.5% of lesions seeing complete tumour regression.
Dr Gerhard Dahlhoff, medical director of OncoBeta, said: “The treatment is designed for non-melanoma skin cancer, which is an abnormal growth of cells that usually (but not always) develops on an area of skin that has been highly exposed to the sun. It grows more slowly than melanoma and is less likely to spread. However, it still requires treatment to stop it growing and possibly spreading.”
Rhenium-SCT can treat any non-melanoma skin cancer. Multiple lesions can be treated in a single session, since no serious side effects are to be expected. It’s also good for elderly patients, those with allergies, comorbidities or a low pain tolerance. It is also recommended for patients with tumours in high-risk or difficult-to-treat areas, and those who have been diagnosed with either basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma.
The treatment begins with a dermatologist marking the required area, after which a nuclear medicine specialist applies a radioactive paste to the skin surface. This is left for between 30 and 180 minutes, depending on the size and depth of the area under treatment. Once the paste is removed, the patient can go home.
The London Clinic’s consultant dermatologist Dr Bashir said: “This is a very exciting treatment because it’s non-invasive, completely painless and does not require any anaesthetic or surgery. In most cases only one treatment session is required, and the patient can literally walk in and walk out. Most treatments for skin cancer require a surgical procedure and a degree of aftercare or wound care, such as stitches or dressings. No aftercare is needed for the Rhenium-SCT treatment.”
The treatment can be accessed through a referral by a dermatologist or by booking an appointment in the Dermatology Clinic at The London Clinic’s Rapid Diagnostics Centre.
