Just two years ago, artificial intelligence (AI) seemed like a brand new concept to many.

However, today, it's an essential part of our lives, demonstrated through chatbots like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini.

But AI's guidance is much more than tech, it’s also shifting healthcare, especially oncology, the study and treatment of cancer.

So, how exactly is AI transforming this particular field?

Efficiency within the Diagnosing Process

Currently, if your GP suspects cancer, you're referred to a specialist under the two-week wait cancer pathway to make sure patients receive prompt attention.

Specialists then conduct tests and imaging to confirm a diagnosis, followed by a treatment plan based on current guidelines.

Now, AI is stepping in at each stage to make patient management more efficient and targeted.

Speeding Up Diagnoses

Recent studies reveal that AI tools like ChatGPT can be more accurate, and much faster, than expert radiologists in diagnosing various types of cancer.

Thanks to AI's big datasets, it can identify patterns that even specialised doctors might miss.

Human errors are inevitable, but AI minimises these risks by constantly analysing data with high precision.

This improvement means patients no longer experience long waits for their imaging and test results to be processed by doctors.

Faster diagnoses lead to earlier treatment, which is crucial in improving outcomes, especially for cancer patients.

Personalised Treatment Plans

Currently, cancer treatments are given based on the type and stage of the disease.

This one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work for each individual cancer cells' characteristics or patient factors.

Therefore, some patients might receive medications their cancer doesn't respond to effectively, wasting precious time and resources.

AI has the ability to revolutionise this aspect by analysing detailed patient data to create specific treatment plans.

By predicting how a patient's cancer will react to specific drugs and therapies, AI enables oncologists to choose the most effective treatments from the get-go.

This personalised approach not only improves treatment efficiency but also reduces side effects by ensuring accurate dosages and targeted therapies.

Patients therefore benefit from better outcomes and possibly quicker, less painful recoveries.

The Future of Oncology

By combining AI into cancer care we are not just saving time and resources, we are saving lives! 

As technology and medicine continue to overlap, we're entering a new chapter in oncology.

This combination offers hope for more efficient treatments and improved patient outcomes which results in a colossal step forward in the fight against cancer.

Credits:

Photo taken by Keerthana Sriram