Theranostics brings new possibilities to cancer care

Theranostics is advancing precision cancer care by targeting tumors more directly, offering patients like Stephen Wright an effective treatment option while helping them maintain their quality of life.

Theranostics is giving physicians a more precise way to find and treat certain cancers. Dr. Jason Allen describes it as the marriage between therapy and diagnostics, using imaging to see exactly where a patient’s tumors are before delivering therapy targeted specifically to those areas.

“It’s more like a surgeon’s scalpel as opposed to a blunt instrument that we might use to treat cancer,” Dr. Allen said.

For Dr. Bryan Schneider, theranostics represents another important tool for helping patients with advanced cancer pursue two fundamental goals: living longer and living well.

“We’re in a different era now,” Dr. Schneider said, pointing to new drugs and technologies that allow physicians to better understand cancer and develop treatments with fewer side effects. “Theranostics is a major player, as one of those new technologies, to advance cancer care.”

Stephen Wright has experienced that potential firsthand. Wright is receiving treatments every six weeks and says the therapy has had little impact on his active lifestyle.

“In about three days, I’m up and I’m going again for five weeks,” Wright said. “We travel a lot and sail, tennis, kayak, bike a lot. Got grandkids now, and that’s a lot of what’s keeping me going.”

Physicians hope theranostics can ultimately provide new treatment possibilities for more patients, including through clinical trials. Dr. Allen said he is excited about bringing the latest therapies to people across Indiana and the region, while Dr. Schneider emphasized the commitment to continually expanding options for patients.

“What we can always promise every one of our patients is that we will provide them the best technology on the planet Earth,” Dr. Schneider said, “and they will have all of our minds focused passionately to give them the best care that we can.”