ABOUT
Dr Pelisa Ford is an accomplished oncologist who runs her practice-based at Life Mercantile Hospital in Port Elizabeth. Palliative care, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, brachytherapy, hormonal and targeted therapies are the doctor's specialities.
Dr Ford attained her medical degree and a postgraduate diploma in palliative medicine from The University of Cape Town. The doctor has an MSc Medicine in Bioethics and Health Law from the University of Witwatersrand and is a Fellow of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa in Radiation Oncology.
Services includes :
- Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is an intense drug therapy that kills cancer cells. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, hair loss, fatigue, lack of appetite, fever, constipation and pain are side effects of chemotherapy. There are various ways to administer chemotherapy that include pills, infusions, shots and creams. Chemotherapy creams are used to treat malignant skin cancer. Chemotherapy drugs can also be administered through the use of injections or capsules. Intravenous chemotherapy fusions are widely used today. Chemotherapy is useful after the surgical removal of a tumour and helps destroy cancer cells that may have already spread to other regions of the body. - Radiotherapy
While x-rays of teeth and bones use low levels of radiation, radiotherapy utilises high volumes of radiation to stunt tumours and eradicate cancer cells. High levels of radiation in the body destroy the DNA of cancer cells. After radiotherapy, cancer cells stop mutating and eventually die. The body breaks down and removes these cells from the system. Radiotherapy does not work instantaneously, but instead works over time. Even after radiation, the cancerous cells will continue to die and break down. Radiation can be done through the use of external beams and radioactive seeds. - Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy is internal radiation therapy. Brachytherapy utilises higher doses of radiation than external beam therapy. Brachytherapy is a more favourable form of treatment as it involves a faster recovery time than external radiation. Brachytherapy treats several types of cancer that include breast cancer, cancer of the bile duct, brain cancer, head and neck cancer and skin cancer, to name a few. Radioactive material like seeds is implanted in body tissue. Radioactive devices are either implanted by hand or through the use of a machine. The oncologist uses images produced from an ultrasound or CT scan as a guide to insert the radioactive device in its precise location. - Hormonal therapy
Hormones are chemical processors that travel through the blood to organs and body tissue. Hormones control growth, development, metabolism, reproductive functions, neurological development and body temperature. Hormonal therapy destroys cancer cells that thrive on hormones. Hormonal therapy, also known as endocrine therapy, can either stop or stunt the growth of tumours. Neo-adjuvant therapy refers to hormonal therapy that the oncologist administers before radiation or surgery. Dr Ford utilises neo-adjuvant therapy to shrink the tumour for surgical resection. Hot flashes, fatigue, diarrhoea, vomiting and nausea are common side effects of hormonal therapy. There are a few ways to administer hormonal therapy that include hormone pills and injections (hormone shots). - Targeted therapy
Targeted cancer therapy utilises drugs and chemicals to attack cancer cells. Targeted therapy can also be combined with radiation and chemotherapy to achieve optimum results. What separates cancer cells from healthy, functional cells is that they undergo consistent genetic changes. Specific malignant cells comprise of unique proteins and enzymes which promote cellular replication. Targeted therapy utilise drugs that inhibit cancerous cellular replication and promote its destruction. Although targeted therapy has a lower risk than other cancer therapies, it has a few side effects. Side effects of targeted therapy include pigmentation issues, rashes, diarrhoea and high blood pressure. - Palliative radiotherapy
Palliative radiotherapy is radiotherapy that’s used to control the spread of cancer and manage its symptoms. Palliative radiotherapy uses low levels of radiation to shrink tumours and doesn’t cure cancer but instead eases the symptoms of the disease. Palliative radiotherapy relieves bone pain and spinal cord pressure. Palliative radiation therapy also treats symptoms of cancer that include bleeding, nausea, fatigue and headaches. Dr Ford advises on the most suitable radiotherapy option, whether internal or external. The dose of each therapy depends on the patient's diagnosis, but the doctor will select a treatment plan that she feels is most effective. - Palliative care
Palliative care is holistic care that Dr Ford provides to manage the effects of cancer therapy. Palliative care improves the patient’s quality of life and reduces the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The doctor works with a multidisciplinary team of specialists to address the patient’s mental, physical, spiritual and emotional needs. Dr Ford offers palliative care in the form of pain management, nutritional guidance and psychological support.
