“Histotripsy: NHS to use scalpel-free ultrasound treatment to target tumours”

Nhi Duong – Evergreen Valley High School – Blood Cancer Association

“Histotripsy: NHS to use scalpel-free ultrasound treatment to target tumours” 

The UK is now the first country in Europe to use a groundbreaking cancer treatment called histotripsy, which destroys tumors using sound instead of surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. This exciting method is being introduced in the NHS at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. It offers hope for patients with liver cancer, one of the deadliest and fastest-growing cancers in the UK. 

Histotripsy works by using high-powered sound waves, also known as ultrasound, to target

the tumor. These sound waves create tiny gas bubbles within the tumor. The bubbles rapidly grow and collapse in under a second, simultaneously tearing apart cancer cells. This technique is more advanced than older methods, as it does not involve surgery, radiation, or drugs, and targets only the tumor, leaving healthy tissue unharmed. This represents a significant advancement in science and tumor research.

Because of this, recovery is quicker too, and there are fewer side effects compared to

other treatments like ablation, which uses heat to destroy tumors and comes with more risks. 

The treatment will be offered as part of regular NHS care, starting with patients who have liver cancer. It takes place in a single outpatient session that lasts about 30 minutes, which is an impressive amount of time to give treatment to tumor cases. 

According to Dr.Teik Choon See, a doctor performing the treatment, it feels like a simple ultrasound scan, although some patients may feel pain afterward. A big improvement from traditional surgery or other treatments, which can be more painful, risky, and require longer recovery times. Faster healing also helps hospitals, because patients don’t need to stay as long, freeing up hospital beds, allow other patients to have more opportunities to receive their treatment. 

Liver cancer is becoming more and more common in the UK; it has increased by over 40% in the past 10 years due to high alcohol use, obesity, and hepatitis infections. Around 6,000 people die from liver cancer each year, and only 13% survive more than 5 years after diagnosis. 

Histotripsy gives new hope, especially for people who cannot go through surgery. Histotripsy is a safe, fast, and promising way to treat cancer without surgery. It may change how many types of cancer are treated and bring new hope to patients who need better options. The NHS leading this change shows the UK’s strong support for health innovation.