Treatment for Cancer

Surgery Treatment and prognosis depend on severity and spread of the cancer Treatment and prognosis depend on severity and spread of the cancer #1 Treatment: Surgery #1 Treatment: Surgery

For several different types of cancer, surgery is dependent upon size, location, and stage of the disease For several different types of cancer, surgery is dependent upon size, location, and stage of the disease For some tumors, detected early, surgery can be a cure For some tumors, detected early, surgery can be a cure

The surgeon will always complete a wide margin cut The surgeon will always complete a wide margin cut The tumor and tissue will be sent to a pathologist to make sure that no tumor cells are found in the surrounding tissue The tumor and tissue will be sent to a pathologist to make sure that no tumor cells are found in the surrounding tissue Surgery is often used in conjunction with radiation and/or chemotherapy Surgery is often used in conjunction with radiation and/or chemotherapy

Wide Margin Cut ©

Surgery can also be used as a palliative measure Surgery can also be used as a palliative measure Palliative: surgery that may be done to relieve symptoms but not to cure the disease Palliative: surgery that may be done to relieve symptoms but not to cure the disease Ex. pain Ex. pain

Radiation Therapy High energy beams are used to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors High energy beams are used to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors Destroys cells that divide rapidly Destroys cells that divide rapidly Damages the DNA of the cancer cells Damages the DNA of the cancer cells Problem? Problem?

Can destroy healthy tissue (esp. skin, hair follicles, lining of intestines, reproductive organs) Can destroy healthy tissue (esp. skin, hair follicles, lining of intestines, reproductive organs) Usually, healthy cells can recover from the radiation, however, there may side effects Usually, healthy cells can recover from the radiation, however, there may side effects

Radiation Therapy ©

Radiation Therapy with a Linear Accelerator Table ©

Side Effects Irritation and/or damage to epithelial cells Irritation and/or damage to epithelial cells –Skin irritation, permanent hair loss Dryness Dryness –Tears, salivary glands, sweat glands Cancer Cancer

Types of radiation therapy Types of radiation therapy Beamed: radiation rays are directed very close to a tumor in an attempt to destroy the cancer cells Beamed: radiation rays are directed very close to a tumor in an attempt to destroy the cancer cells Usually an outpatient procedure Usually an outpatient procedure

Implanted capsule: a small capsule of radiation is implanted into or near the tumor Implanted capsule: a small capsule of radiation is implanted into or near the tumor Patient may have to stay in the hospital Patient may have to stay in the hospital

The radiation is directed at/near the cancer site The radiation is directed at/near the cancer site Radiation can reduce symptoms when a cure is not possible Radiation can reduce symptoms when a cure is not possible

As tumors shrink from damaged outer layer, the surviving cells appear to obtain an improved blood supply As tumors shrink from damaged outer layer, the surviving cells appear to obtain an improved blood supply This may make them more susceptible to the radiation This may make them more susceptible to the radiation

Chemotherapy Chemicals that affect cancer cells’ metabolic processes Chemicals that affect cancer cells’ metabolic processes Used to cure, control, or relieve cancer symptoms Used to cure, control, or relieve cancer symptoms

Normal cells also take in the toxin— the hope is that the cancer cells build up toxins and the healthy cells keep the level low Normal cells also take in the toxin— the hope is that the cancer cells build up toxins and the healthy cells keep the level low Given intravenously or orally Given intravenously or orally

Chemotherapy © 7897P-001.jpg

IRWY-LMYc&feature=related IRWY-LMYc&feature=related

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy: given before surgery to shrink a tumor Neoadjuvant chemotherapy: given before surgery to shrink a tumor Benefit? Benefit? Adjuvant chemotherapy: given after surgery if lymph nodes are involved Adjuvant chemotherapy: given after surgery if lymph nodes are involved

Side Effects Depend upon the dose given Depend upon the dose given May range from minimal to life- threatening conditions May range from minimal to life- threatening conditions May damage the bone marrow, hair follicles, and lining of mouth, throat, intestines, rectum May damage the bone marrow, hair follicles, and lining of mouth, throat, intestines, rectum

Damage to the bone marrow results in lowered production of wbc, rbc, and platelets Damage to the bone marrow results in lowered production of wbc, rbc, and platelets Lowered blood cell count Lowered blood cell count Nausea and vomiting Nausea and vomiting

Medications can be given to control nausea Medications can be given to control nausea Growth factor can be given to force the body to produce wbcs Growth factor can be given to force the body to produce wbcs

Hormone Therapy Stops the effects or production of estrogen and progesterone (both stimulate the growth of breast cancer) Stops the effects or production of estrogen and progesterone (both stimulate the growth of breast cancer) Often prescribed for post-menopausal women since their cancer cells tend to have receptors that attract these hormones Often prescribed for post-menopausal women since their cancer cells tend to have receptors that attract these hormones

Lowers testosterone in males Lowers testosterone in males

Immunotherapy NNjDjXSJt0 NNjDjXSJt0 Immunotherapy: attempts to stimulate the immune system to reject and destroy tumors Immunotherapy: attempts to stimulate the immune system to reject and destroy tumors –Theoretically, it is the best treatment

Examples: – –Vaccines – –Drugs that help immune system cells to grow and divide faster

Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. When the Fc receptors on natural killer (NK) cells interact with Fc regions of antibodies bound to cancer cells, the NK cell releases perforin and granzyme, leading to cancer cell apoptosis.

Gene Therapy Gene therapy: the insertion of genes into cancer cells in an attempt to treat it Gene therapy: the insertion of genes into cancer cells in an attempt to treat it In other words, the corrected gene is inserted into a cell to replace the abnormal/ disease causing gene In other words, the corrected gene is inserted into a cell to replace the abnormal/ disease causing gene

Still in the experimental stage Still in the experimental stage The most common vector is a virus The most common vector is a virus