Cancer: What It Is and How It Is Treated?
Cancer is a devastating disease- it may affect not only to the person diagnosed with the disease but also to the people around him especially his family and loved ones. There are different types of cancer and each cancer varies with regard to the prognosis. Apart from that, each type of cancer also varies in terms of their treatment modality.
Diagnosing Cancer
The diagnosis of cancer is very crucial as early diagnosis of some forms of cancer is equated to a good prognosis of the disease. With the different types of cancer, there are also different ways as to how they can be diagnosed at an early point. For example, breast cancer is best detected early on through regular breast self-examination. The same goes with Testicular Cancer which can be detected early through Testicular Self Examination.
However, there are also some types of cancer which can be detected only when the mass or lump is palpable or obvious enough. Thus, regular physical examinations as well as radiologic exams (X-Ray, MRI, CT Scan) are important and should be done routinely to rule out malignancies.
Treating Cancer
There are different treatment modalities for cancer. While the most effective treatment for malignancies remain to be surgery, thus removing the diseased organ or area, there are also doctors which combines the different methods of treatment like radiation therapy, chemotherapy as well as surgery.
Chemotherapy is the most common method of treating cancer and involves the administration anti-cancer drugs via intravenous fluids. The most common drugs administered for cancer are Cisplatin, Adriamycin, 5-Flurouracil, as well as Bleomycin and Doxurubicin.
Types of Chemotherapeutic Agents:
Alkylating Agents. These drugs are active during the resting phase of the cell and works by destroying the malignant cells as well as the neighboring cells which may not be diseased. These are non-cell-cycle specific which means that they attack cells at any part of the cell cycle.
Plant Alkaloids. These drugs are derived from plants and are cell cycle specific, meaning they target cells only at a specific part of the cell’s life which makes it more effective.
Antitumor Antibiotics. These are derived from the soil fungus Streptomyces and are all cell cycle specific.
Antimetabolites. These drugs work by incorporating chemicals into the cell making them unable to divide and multiply.
Side Effects of Cancer Treatment
This type of treatment usually leads to side effects such as hair loss, nausea and vomiting, generalized body weakness and compromised immune system, as well. Body image issues and lowered self-esteem may present in persons undergoing this therapy.
Another most common and concerning side effect in a patient undergoing chemotherapy is decreased appetite. Because of an altered taste mechanism as well as extreme sensitivity to the odor, texture and look of the food, a patient undergoing chemotherapy will usually experience difficulty in eating and loss of appetite.
Most of the time, special diets are recommended and prescribed for patients with this side effect. High protein diets are recommended for these patients and if they do not tolerate foods orally, they might be prescribed with parenteral nutrition medications- that is, the nutrients they need are passed on to their body intravenously.
Cancer is a highly devastating disease and early detection is very important. The earlier it is detected, the greater the chances of getting a good prognosis.
