CHEMOTHERAPY
Chemotherapy involves drugs that travel through the bloodstream and destroy rapidly dividing or sometimes resting cells. The chemotherapy agents cause cell death and while most of them are not specific and target all cells some of the agents are cytotoxic during a specific phase of the cell cycle and can target the rapidly dividing cells. Therefore repeated courses of chemotherapy must be given to eliminate cancer cells that may still be in the resting phase and thus viable to divide and cause recurrence of the disease. In most cases a combination of chemotherapy agents are used. Chemotherapy agents target all cells and cannot differentiate between normal and cancer cells but the normal cell can recover much more quickly than the cancer cells.
Chemotherapy is used as an adjuvant treatment, in patients with early breast cancer, after surgery and aims to eradicate possible micrometastases in the body. In some cases where the tumour is 3cm or more in diameter chemotherapy can be used pre-operatively in order to shrink the tumour and probably make it possible for the patient to have a lumpectomy instead of mastectomy. Chemotherapy is recommended for premenopausal women with invasive cancer but it can also be recommended for postmenopausal women if lymph nodes are involved. Finally women with in situ cancer which has a very low risk of metastasizing usually do not receive adjuvant chemotherapy since the disadvantages outweigh the advantages of the treatment.
Side effects of the therapy are quite common and occur due to the damage of the normal cells and especially the rapidly dividing cells of the gastrointestinal tract, hair follicles, gonadal cells and bone marrow are most venerable during the course of the treatment. Side effects may vary from just a few manageable to severe reactions that require the termination of the treatment depending on the patient.
Neutropenia is a very low number of neutrophils which constitute the main volume of white cells circulating in the blood stream to defend the body from bacterial infections. Therefore patients on chemotherapy treatment are usually venerable to infections and the patients must be monitored for any signs that may suggest infection.
Anaemia is usually not life threatening but can affect the quality of life by causing lethargy, breathlessness and fatigue. Blood transfusions may be required in order to control the symptoms. Bleeding due to low platelet count is a common side effect usually accompanying the anaemia and can cause headaches, bruising or nosebleeds due to failure of clotting.
Chemotherapy also affects the epithelial cells that line the surfaces of the mouth cavity. Lesions, ulcers and inflammations can occur and the patients are usually susceptible to viral infections shuch as herpes simplex, especially in the immune system is compromised. Patients are advised to use a soft toothbrush, prescribed mouthwashes and oral gels and have soft foods. Lots of clear fluids through a straw and ice cheeps can also help soothe the symptoms.
Loss of hare (alopecia) mostly involves the scalp hair but other body hair may also become thin. This side effect is cause by certain chemotherapy drugs and the extend of hair loss may vary depending on the individual. Prevention can be attempted by cooling the scalp down to 20 C during the administration of the treatment, causing constriction of the blood supply to the hair follicles. Other preventative measures include using a soft hairbrush, cutting the hair shorter, using gentle shampoo, letting the hair to dry naturally and avoid using hair products.
Nausea and vomiting are also common symptoms but contrary to common belief not all the chemotherapy drugs cause them and the severity of the reaction can differ from patient to patient. These side effects are caused by damage to the epithelial cells lining the gastrointestinal tract. The use of antiemetic medication from the day before and during the treatment is almost always employed. Complementary therapies including relaxation and visualization techniques and dry foods in small frequent meals can help with reducing the symptoms.
Chemotherapy does not destroy the eggs but can cause changes to the ovaries that obstruct the release of the eggs. While young women are more likely to retain or regain their fertility women over the age of 40 are more susceptible to developing amenorrhoea and menopausal symptoms. If the ovaries are compromised then patients may experience menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweets and vaginal dryness. Finally techniques to preserve fertility options such as freezing eggs or embryos must be carefully evaluated since the hormone injections used to collect the eggs may stimulate the growth of breast cancer.
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms during cancer therapy. The side effect can be the result of health deterioration due to the treatment but the psychological impact of the cancer diagnoses as well as symptoms of distress during the treatments can also contribute to the feeling of fatigue. Studies have shown that moderate exercise combined with diet, sleep and resting adjustments can help improving the quality of the patient’s life. Furthermore attention restoring activities, antidepressants, stress management and psychological support can also be employed to deal with chronic or insisting symptoms of fatigue.
PALLIATIVE CHEMOTHERAPY
When the cancer has metastasized chemotherapy is used as the major treatment. Radiation and surgery are not therapeutic in advanced metastatic cancers and therefore they may only be used to manage pain and increase the quality of life of the patient.
Chemotherapy may also not lead cure of the disease but a in high percentage of cases it has been shown that the treatment can extend life and improve the patient’s quality of life. Chemotherapy can cause remission of cancer in over 70% of cases for more than 3 years and can also be used to relieve symptoms of pain or breathing difficulties. During palliative chemotherapy since high doses of cytotoxic drugs are used for a long period of time it is important for the experts to make sure that the advantages of the therapy do not outweigh the disadvantages and the potential side effects will not lead to further discomfort of the patient.
Chemotherapy involves drugs that travel through the bloodstream and destroy rapidly dividing or sometimes resting cells. The chemotherapy agents cause cell death and while most of them are not specific and target all cells some of the agents are cytotoxic during a specific phase of the cell cycle and can target the rapidly dividing cells. Therefore repeated courses of chemotherapy must be given to eliminate cancer cells that may still be in the resting phase and thus viable to divide and cause recurrence of the disease. In most cases a combination of chemotherapy agents are used. Chemotherapy agents target all cells and cannot differentiate between normal and cancer cells but the normal cell can recover much more quickly than the cancer cells.
Chemotherapy is used as an adjuvant treatment, in patients with early breast cancer, after surgery and aims to eradicate possible micrometastases in the body. In some cases where the tumour is 3cm or more in diameter chemotherapy can be used pre-operatively in order to shrink the tumour and probably make it possible for the patient to have a lumpectomy instead of mastectomy. Chemotherapy is recommended for premenopausal women with invasive cancer but it can also be recommended for postmenopausal women if lymph nodes are involved. Finally women with in situ cancer which has a very low risk of metastasizing usually do not receive adjuvant chemotherapy since the disadvantages outweigh the advantages of the treatment.
Side effects of the therapy are quite common and occur due to the damage of the normal cells and especially the rapidly dividing cells of the gastrointestinal tract, hair follicles, gonadal cells and bone marrow are most venerable during the course of the treatment. Side effects may vary from just a few manageable to severe reactions that require the termination of the treatment depending on the patient.
Neutropenia is a very low number of neutrophils which constitute the main volume of white cells circulating in the blood stream to defend the body from bacterial infections. Therefore patients on chemotherapy treatment are usually venerable to infections and the patients must be monitored for any signs that may suggest infection.
Anaemia is usually not life threatening but can affect the quality of life by causing lethargy, breathlessness and fatigue. Blood transfusions may be required in order to control the symptoms. Bleeding due to low platelet count is a common side effect usually accompanying the anaemia and can cause headaches, bruising or nosebleeds due to failure of clotting.
Chemotherapy also affects the epithelial cells that line the surfaces of the mouth cavity. Lesions, ulcers and inflammations can occur and the patients are usually susceptible to viral infections shuch as herpes simplex, especially in the immune system is compromised. Patients are advised to use a soft toothbrush, prescribed mouthwashes and oral gels and have soft foods. Lots of clear fluids through a straw and ice cheeps can also help soothe the symptoms.
Loss of hare (alopecia) mostly involves the scalp hair but other body hair may also become thin. This side effect is cause by certain chemotherapy drugs and the extend of hair loss may vary depending on the individual. Prevention can be attempted by cooling the scalp down to 20 C during the administration of the treatment, causing constriction of the blood supply to the hair follicles. Other preventative measures include using a soft hairbrush, cutting the hair shorter, using gentle shampoo, letting the hair to dry naturally and avoid using hair products.
Nausea and vomiting are also common symptoms but contrary to common belief not all the chemotherapy drugs cause them and the severity of the reaction can differ from patient to patient. These side effects are caused by damage to the epithelial cells lining the gastrointestinal tract. The use of antiemetic medication from the day before and during the treatment is almost always employed. Complementary therapies including relaxation and visualization techniques and dry foods in small frequent meals can help with reducing the symptoms.
Chemotherapy does not destroy the eggs but can cause changes to the ovaries that obstruct the release of the eggs. While young women are more likely to retain or regain their fertility women over the age of 40 are more susceptible to developing amenorrhoea and menopausal symptoms. If the ovaries are compromised then patients may experience menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweets and vaginal dryness. Finally techniques to preserve fertility options such as freezing eggs or embryos must be carefully evaluated since the hormone injections used to collect the eggs may stimulate the growth of breast cancer.
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms during cancer therapy. The side effect can be the result of health deterioration due to the treatment but the psychological impact of the cancer diagnoses as well as symptoms of distress during the treatments can also contribute to the feeling of fatigue. Studies have shown that moderate exercise combined with diet, sleep and resting adjustments can help improving the quality of the patient’s life. Furthermore attention restoring activities, antidepressants, stress management and psychological support can also be employed to deal with chronic or insisting symptoms of fatigue.
PALLIATIVE CHEMOTHERAPY
When the cancer has metastasized chemotherapy is used as the major treatment. Radiation and surgery are not therapeutic in advanced metastatic cancers and therefore they may only be used to manage pain and increase the quality of life of the patient.
Chemotherapy may also not lead cure of the disease but a in high percentage of cases it has been shown that the treatment can extend life and improve the patient’s quality of life. Chemotherapy can cause remission of cancer in over 70% of cases for more than 3 years and can also be used to relieve symptoms of pain or breathing difficulties. During palliative chemotherapy since high doses of cytotoxic drugs are used for a long period of time it is important for the experts to make sure that the advantages of the therapy do not outweigh the disadvantages and the potential side effects will not lead to further discomfort of the patient.