Saturday, April 10, 2010

Radiotherapy Chemotherapy

I asked Beng what was his initial expectation when he went for medical treatment. He said: "I expected to be cured. I totally believed that the chemotherapy was going to cure me." I then asked why he refused when the oncologist wanted to do the second round of chemotherapy. Beng replied: "Since it did not cure me the first round, I only half-believe him this time."

alexandria doctor

Henry started off with a Stage 2 colorectal cancer without any metastasis whatsoever. After surgery and chemotherapy his fortune turned for the worse. He suffered metastasis to his lungs, liver left ureter, bladder and bones. The doctor suggested more chemotherapy but Henry declined and came to seek our help.

Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are mainly used for palliative purposes in pancreatic cancer. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are usually combined with surgery, the main modality of treatment, in pancreatic cancer management. Pancreatic cancer cells are highly resistant to chemotherapy drugs.

Chemotherapy had helped make Anna's life better. The lump has also shrunk. If four cycles were good for her, does it mean that more chemotherapy (up to eight cycles) would be better? Indeed this is debatable - more does not necessarily mean better! While chemotherapy did not hurt Anna, it certainly hurt the pocket.

Chemotherapy is an effective treatment used in all the other cancer treatments to stop the growth of cancer cells. You can take this treatment on a monthly basis or you may take intravenously. Duration of the chemotherapy depends on the type of drugs as well as the type of cancer to cure.

The primary intention of cancer treatment is to achieve cure and improve survival. Another equally important intention gaining importance in recent years is to conserve the structural and functional aspects of the organ with cancer. Radiotherapy has an important role in breast cancer as it helps in the attainment of both these objectives of cancer treatment.

Radiotherapy involves exposing cancer cells to a tumor to radiation (we say also ray or radiation) that inhibit the multiplication of cells and cause their destruction. These rays are produced by particle accelerators, or by radioactive sources. This is called "radiation" of the tumor.

Radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer is a difficult journey for anyone. This article describes the experiences of someone who has gone through the ordeal and is now well and thriving.'

Reflexology is used by many people under going treatment for cancer, and is proving highly beneficial in alleviating the adverse side effects of chemotherapy, helping the patient to deeply relax, reducing levels of anxiety, and helping them cope with the distressing symptoms of pain and nausea.

After mastectomy, women are sent to see the oncologists. They are often told to go for chemotherapy. This treatment is like an "insurance" against future problems. The fear of recurrence is sufficient enough to make women go through chemotherapy. To them, the sufferings of the treatment are worth enduring for the promise of cure at the end of the adventure. What some oncologists don’t tell their patients is that not all the cancer cells are killed by the treatment or the treatment may not even benefit them.