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Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a chemical treatment to kill cancerous cells that divide and reproduce themselves. Chemotherapy is often used along with surgery, radiotherapy and hormonal therapy. Combination chemotherapy involves the use of several drugs together. Unfortunately chemotherapy leads to unpleasant side effects. In this process, healthy cells (mouth, digestive system, skin, hair and bone marrow) are often affected but they try and repair the damage done to them. Chemotherapy is given to destroy cancerous cells that remain after surgery or radiation. Palliative chemotherapy is given to control a cancer. Chemotherapy is usually administered in cycles - a session of chemotherapy followed by a rest period. Chemotherapy is adminstered intraveneously, intramuscularly or orally. Chemotherapy is administered for a period of time based on the type and extent of cancer.

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths. Cigarette smoking is the most likely causes of lung cacner. Tobacco smoke contains thousands of carcinogenics. In fact passive smoking is also a major risk factor for lung cancer. Persons suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at increased risk for developing lung cancer. Other potential causes for lung cancer include radiation and exposure to asbestos.

Usually most occurences of lung cancer are NSCLC (non-small-cell lung cancers). They tend to grow slowly. A small percentage of lung cancers are of the rapidly-spreading type. Typical symptoms of lung cancer include shortness of breath and chest discomfort, persistent cough, loss of appetite and coughing up blood. Often symptoms of lung cancer do not show up in some people. Patients with lung cancer may also show symptoms such as cyanosis that is indicative of compromised lung functioning.

Chest x-rays and phlegm sample examination is done for patients suffering from the symptoms that may suggest lung cancer. A bronchoscopy is done to photograph and take cell samples of the lung airways. Lung cancer can be diagnosed with lung biopsy. CT scan of the chest area is done to examine any tumors. A spiral CT scan is very effective in locating even small lung cancer tumors. MRI can give deatiled imaging of tiny structural changes. If the lung cancer is likely to have metastasized to the bone, a PET scan will show that up. Thoracentesis involves aspiration of a small sample of the fluid that accumulates in the space between the lungs and chest wall. Image-guided fine needle aspiration is done to retrieve cells from tumor nodules in the lung. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are used individually or together to treat lung cancer tumors.

Hepatocarcinoma

Malignant hepatoma, which is primary cancer of the liver is termed hepatocarcinoma. Hepatocarcinoma is secondary in about 20% to either a viral hepatitide infection (hepatitis B and C) and about 80% to cirrhosis. In some cases, it is metastasis of cancer, spread from elsewhere in the body. It is also associated with chronic alcohol abuse. Hepatocellular carcinoma is relatively rare in the United States but quite common in the African and Southeast Asian countries. Infact, this is the fifth most common tumor worldwide. In some African countries the disease onsets between late teens and 30s although the normal occurrence is in patients over age 50. Hepatocarcinoma is more common in males than females.

Hepatocarcinoma patients are put under surveillance with ultrasound. Possibly the best method of diagnosis involves a CT scan of the abdomen. This is done using intravenous contrast agent and three phase scanning, enabling the radiologist to detect subtle tumors as well. Another possible alternative to a CT imaging is MRI, using contrast agents which is used to detect the presence of a tumor capsule. Diagnosis is further confirmed by percutaneous biopsy and histopathological parameters.

Treatment for hepatocarcinoma depends especially on the size of the tumor and staging. Some of the treatment options are liver transplantation, which is to replace the liver with a cadaver liver or a live donor lobe; surgical resection wherein the tumor is removed if diagnosed early; Percutaneous ethanol injections in case of solitary tumors and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for large tumors.

Sometimes sealed source radiotherapy is used to destroy the tumor from within. Here, the radioactive particles are deposited to the area of interest using a catheter. Radiofrequency ablation uses high frequency radio waves to ablate the tumor. As an adjuvant therapy in resected patients, intra-arterial-iodine-131-lipiodol administration is performed. High intensity frequency ultrasound is a relatively new but powerful technique used to treat the tumor. Hormonal therapy and adjuvant chemotherapy are other treatment modalities adopted. Cryosurgery is yet another new technique that can destroy tumors in a variety of sites, in the brain, breast, kidney, prostrate and liver.