Cancer Treatments...
Cancer treatments vary according to the type of cancer and the extent of the tumor. In some cases the diagnostic procedure is also a treatment procedure, as in some colposcopic procedures and hysterectomies An excisional biopsy performed to diagnose breast cancer may also remove the cancer; follow up treatments may include radiation and/or chemo. Thanks to early diagnosis of breast cancer through regular mammogram screenings and monthly breast self- examines the survival rate for breast cancer has increased tremendously.The treatment for your cancer will be determined by the type of cancer diagnosis you have received, as well as the extent to which it has developed. Three cancer treatments most commonly used are surgery, chemo therapy, and radiation treatments.
Other less commonly used treatments include; lasers, which are most useful for areas on the surface of the body or for areas that can be reached by an endoscope; hyperthermia which applies heat to directly to the tumor; and cryosurgery which freezes tumor masses and is useful in liver tumors; cyrosurgery is also being used experimentally in prostate cancer.
If you have undergone a surgical procedure you will begin your chemo and/or radiation treatments when your physician feels you have recovered sufficiently to withstand the effects of chemo and/or radiation. Chemo therapy uses large doses of strong anti- cancer drugs which kill cancer cells; the type of medication and the length of each chemo therapy session will be determined by your particular cancer diagnosis.
Radiation therapy uses intense beams of x-rays which are targeted directly and precisely at your cancer; some burning of the skin may occur and cause some discomfort and you may be extra tired during a schedule of radiation treatments. Radiation therapy will generally last for 5- 6 weeks and occur on several days of the week; again it will be individualized according to your particular cancer diagnosis.
If you have any questions or are unclear about the cancer treatments your physician has recommended; ask you physician to explain until you do understand. It is specially important with a diagnosis of cancer that you clearly understand all your treatment options, the possible side effects, and the prognosis for your cancer.
Cancer Treatment Side Effects...
When people think of cancer treatment the first thing they usually think of is the nausea and hair loss that often accompanies chemo therapy and radiation treatments. Today treatment medications have been improved making treatments more bearable and better medications are available for side effects such as nausea.Cancer will cause a loss of appetite in most patients; once cancer treatments begin your appetite may be non- existent. It is vital to your recovery for you to eat! If loss of appetite is a problem, discuss it with your physician; medication may sometimes be prescribed to increase your appetite. Patients are often advised to drink a nutritional supplement such as, Ensure. Many cancer patients mix a nutritional supplement with ice cream and make a nutritional milk shake.
If eating is impossible, feeding tubes may be inserted, but they are used only as a last resort and when use may mean the difference between life and death. Remember many types of cancer are survivable, but almost all cancer patients will lose their appetite; so the use of feeding tubes to deliver nutrition, if food cannot be tolerated may save your life.
If you are the family or friend of a cancer patient who does not want to eat, encourage them to eat as much as possible. Cancer patients taste buds are often affected by the treatments they receive; foods they once loved may not taste good anymore and they may request some unusual foods. No matter what they request, the most important thing is that patients eat!
Talking With Your Physician...
Good communication between you and your physician is of particular importance during this time. Your physician will explain the possible surgery and/or biopsy procedures best for your particular suspected cancer diagnosis. It is extremely important for you to listen carefully to your physician as he explains your options to you. If you do not understand something ask questions until you do!It is always your option to choose to have a second opinion and your physician should have no problem with this; often he will have a partner or another colleague whom he will refer you to. Or you can choose your own second opinion physician. Remember when faced with a possible cancer diagnosis; early diagnosis and treatment is imperative to survival.
The good news about cancer is that for many types of cancer survival rates have risen significantly, in the last few years. This is due, in large part, to early cancer diagnosis and treatment.
