Chemotherapy is a treatment of cancer where drugs or medicines are used to kill or destroy the cancer cells. The principle behind chemotherapy lies on the drugs that limit the growth of cancer cells or destroy them at an earlier stage.
When is chemotherapy indicated ?
Chemotherapy is mostly used an adjunct to surgical treatment of cancer when complete cure of cancer could not be achieved by its surgical removal, if the cancer is deep seated and is inoperable and in patients in whom surgery is contraindicated.
How chemotherapy helps ?
Chemotherapy helps in slowing down the growth rate of cancer cells and even destroys them. Chemotherapy also helps in easing the symptoms of cancer.
How is chemotherapy administered ?
Chemotherapy can be administered at a hospital, an outpatient clinic or at home depending upon your overall condition. The type of chemotherapeutic drug to be administered is usually decided by the medical oncologist and your treating consultant on complete evaluation of your health. Chemotherapeutic medication can be administrated intravenously, intraperitonally (via the abdomen), intramuscularly, topically and orally. Chemotherapy is given via ports ( a small disc under the skin), catheter ( a thin tube) or pumps which are attached to catheters or ports.
How often is chemotherapy administered ?
Chemotherapy sessions may vary from patient to patient. It depends on the type of cancer, your overall health, and your body’s response to chemotherapeutic medication. Most of the chemotherapeutic cycles follow a schedule of administration of chemotherapeutic agents for a week and then a gap of three weeks till the next cycle. The main aim of giving a gap between the cycles is to help maintain the health of the body, prevent severe side effects and help the body in re building new cells.
What are the side effects of chemotherapy ?
The main drawback of chemotherapy is that it kills the normal cells along with the cancer cells. Common side effects include fatigue, weakness, abdominal discomfort, headache and dizziness. Special diet modification has to be followed during chemotherapy to minimize the side effects.
What is radiotherapy ?
Also referred as the radiation treatment for cancer, is a treatment mode which utilizes high energy X rays for destroying the cancer cells. Radiotherapy is also used an adjunct to the surgical mode of treatment of cancer. Sometimes radiotherapy is administered prior to surgical removal of cancer to shrink or reduce the size of cancer in case of large cancers. Radiotherapy is performed by a team of specialists namely your consulting specialist, a radiation oncologist and well trained nurses in oncology unit.
This modality of treatment refers to administration of high energy X-rays radiation at a predefined time period at the cancer site. Radiotherapy is usually administered by a radiation oncologist who specializes in treatment of cancer via radiation administration. External beam radiation is the most common form of radiation administration where the radiation is administrated via an external source. Radiotherapy is mostly used as an adjunct to a surgical approach. Radiation has many side effects such as generalized weakness, malaise, nausea, headache, weight loss, hair loss, swelling and pain in tissues, and blistering of the skin, hence radiation is mostly advised in cases of large cancerous tissue, or when the chances of metastasis are high. Advances in the field of radiation therapy such as brachytherapy where the radioactive substance is placed within the cancerous tissue and Neoadjuvant therapy which is usually done as an initial step to shrink large tumors. The regimen of radiation administration usually last for about 2-6 weeks and depends on the patients individual condition and status of the cancer.
How radiotherapy works?
The principle behind radiotherapy is that the high energy radiation damages the genetic material of the cancer cells thereby causing their death.
How is radiotherapy administered?
Radiation treatment or radiotherapy can be administered by the following methods.
- External Beam radiation therapy: When the source of radiation is placed outside the body. This is the most common method of radiation administration. This is usually given over a week in varied doses depending upon the type of cancer and your overall condition.
- Internal radiation therapy: This is also called as Brachytherapy. This technique is based on the placement of radioactive material via catheters or needles in the areas where cancer cells are found ( example vagina or prostrate). This method is mostly used in cases of deep seated cancers which are inaccessible.
- Intensity modulated radiation therapy: This is a more precise method of radiation administration which is used to target cancer cells.
- Systemic radiation : Administration of radioactive material (radioactive iodine) orall or intravenously so it is released in the blood and it reaches the cancer cells.
- 3D- conformal radiation: This method utilizes a 3D planning system to accurately administer the radiation depending on the target site of cancer.
- Fractionated radiotherapy: The dose of radiation to be administered is fractionated depending upon the type of cancer and overall condition of the patient. Sometimes lower doses can be administered for a longer period of time and sometimes higher doses can be administered for a shorter period of time.
What are the side effects of radiation therapy?
The side effects of radiation therapy include fatigue, blistering of skin in the area of radiation administration, nausea and vomiting, abdominal discomfort and hair loss. Severe side effects of radiotherapy include memory loss, vaginal fibrosis, damage to bladder, infertility and rarely a second cancer in response to radiation.
How to find and reach cancer specialists for cancer treatment ?
Finding and choosing a cancer specialist is the first step in cancer treatment. It is always better to take opinions from different cancer specialists and understand things before choosing a cancer specialist for cancer treatment. Now finding and reaching cancer specialists for cancer treatment from different cancer hospitals and destinations is much easier. It can be done on a single platform, Hinfoways. You can avail opinions and information from multiple cancer specialists, cost estimates for cancer treatment from different cancer hospitals, compare things and then choose a cancer specialist or a cancer hospital for cancer treatment.
Find, reach and choose a cancer specialist for cancer treatment on Hinfoways. Make an informed choice.
Disclaimer: The content provided here is meant for general informational purposes only and hence SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, care or evaluation by a qualified doctor/physician or other relevantly qualified healthcare provider.
