In our life, there is probably no worse disease than cancer. The tumor mercilessly mows people, regardless of their gender, age, status. Every day more and more children are hospitalized with a terrible diagnosis. At such moments, it seems that there is no hope left. However, chemotherapy for oncology is considered an effective way to combat. Timely diagnosis of the tumor increases the chances of recovery.
Oncological diseases
Oncological diseases or cancer are malignant tumors. They are formed as a result of degeneration and rapid multiplication of epithelial cells. Cancer can affect bone, muscle, and brain tissue (sarcoma) and the circulatory system. The insidiousness of the disease lies in the fact that it develops gradually, without obvious signs. Tumors may not make themselves felt for years. Often the symptoms of the disease appear already at the third or fourth stage, when treatment becomes difficult.
Cancer stages:
- Zero, when the tumor has not yet had time to infect the lymph nodes and other organs.
- The first, second, third - the tumor gradually grows deeper, spreading to the lymph nodes and nearby organs.
- The fourth is a death sentence. The tumor spreads to all organs (metastasizes). At this stage, cancer is no longer treatable. The only way out is supportive therapy, which prolongs life and suppresses pain. Even chemotherapy for oncology remains powerless. The drugs used in treatment can not only harm, but also aggravate the patient's condition.
Causes and symptoms of the appearance of tumors
Of course, to name all the causes of cancer is very difficult. Malignant tumors can form both in a person having health problems and in absolutely healthy people.
Risk factors include:
- Bad habits (smoking, excessive drinking).
- Living in contaminated and toxic hazardous areas.
- Hormonal malfunctions and disorders.
- Injuries.
- Stress.
- Ultraviolet radiation.
In order for the oncology chemotherapy treatment to be successful, the disease must be recognized at the first - second stage. Later diagnosis is often unsuccessful.
Common symptoms of malignant tumors:
- Sharp and inexplicable weight loss (from five and above a kilogram), lack of appetite.
- Fever, fever, chills.
- The general state of health is poor, a person quickly gets tired.
- Nervousness, insomnia.
- Pain of different locations.
- Changes on the skin - growths, rashes, darkening, redness, jaundice.
- Disturbed urination and stool.
- Wounds that do not heal for a long time.
- Bleeding, discharge from organs (from ears, nose, etc.).
- Seals on the body, palpable palpation.
Diagnosis and treatment methods
Tumors are of two types - benign (only one organ is affected, tissue proliferation is slow) and malignant (penetrate all organs, affecting them with their cells). Early diagnosis of cancer helps prevent the growth of the tumor, and also increases the chances of a normal and full life. The presence of a tumor can be determined using such complex methods:
- Blood analysis.
- X-ray
- Tomography (computed and magnetic resonance).
- Ultrasound.
- Cytological studies.
- Biopsy (study of tumor particles).
The sooner cancer has been discovered, the easier it is to treat it. Therefore, do not neglect any symptoms. After all, this may be a "cry for help" of your body.
Cancer treatment options:
- Surgical is one of the main ones. It is used in the early stages when the tumor has not yet grown throughout the body.
- Radiation therapy. The principle of action is the irradiation of cancer cells and their DNA, as a result of which they lose the ability to multiply and die. Often this method is used together with the surgical one.
- Chemotherapy. Treatment of tumors with drugs. How chemotherapy is done in oncology is an individual question. This directly depends on the specific case and the patient.
- Maintenance therapy The goal is to support and extend the life of the patient. In this case, the main task is to reduce pain and suffering. Supportive therapy is used in the last stages of cancer, when hope has completely faded, and a miracle will not happen.
How is chemotherapy for cancer
Radiation therapy, like chemotherapy, in most cases is used in combination with surgical intervention. Sometimes the entire tumor cannot be removed immediately, and only one part of it is excised. To another, apply the method of radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy is always used in the treatment of cancer. Medications can kill the tumor completely, but can only stop its growth and reproduction.
Of course, chemotherapy in oncology has very different consequences. After all, the goal of drugs is to damage the tumor cells. But along with them, healthy cells of the body also suffer. Therefore, chemotherapy is carried out in courses, a break between which can be from weeks to several months. So, the body manages to recover a little. The duration of the courses depends on the stage of the tumor.
For treatment, two main types of drugs are used - cytostatics and cytotoxins. The task of the former is to destroy the cancer cell, and the latter are needed to trigger apoptosis (the so-called “suicide” process of cells).
Side effects of chemotherapy in oncology
Like any medication, chemotherapy courses adversely affect the body. Medicines used to treat cancer have a number of side effects. But if you have to choose between life and death, chemotherapy is the lesser of two evils.
The treatment is carried out in several ways:
- Injection directly into the tumor.
- Tablets.
- Intravenous or intramuscular injection. So most chemotherapy drugs are administered.
- Topical preparations.
The main goal of chemotherapy is to kill, reduce the size of tumor cells, and also to stop their reproduction. Therefore, it is not surprising that drugs are very toxic.
The main side effects:
- Deterioration of health, nausea, vomiting, weakness.
- Hair loss, baldness.
- Disruption of the digestive system.
- Hearing impairment, coordination of movements.
- Numbness of the limbs.
Even when side effects are pronounced - this is not a reason for stopping treatment. Of course, oncology chemotherapy for patients has very different reviews. There are times when side effects are almost invisible to the patient. However, this rarely happens.
After the next course of drugs, the body partially recovers, and the negative reaction to medications completely disappears.
Many cancer patients are interested in the topic “Chemotherapy and Hair”: why does the hair fall out, how long will it last, will new hair grow back?
Alopecia is the main side effect of chemotherapy. Hair does not begin to fall out immediately, but after several courses of medication. However, when a full recovery occurs, a new head of hair will grow.
Most patients use wigs or hats during treatment.
Chemotherapy and proper nutrition
Enriched and balanced food, a healthy lifestyle - this is the best prevention of all diseases. Proper nutrition during chemotherapy is especially important. Oncology for any person is always a sharp weight loss and loss of appetite. Therefore, high-calorie and nutritious food is a way out of the situation. Useful products will help regulate body weight, as well as increase the body's defenses, which is so necessary for recovery.
There are several simple rules regarding nutrition that have a beneficial effect on the body during chemotherapy:
- Food should be taken often in small portions.
- No matter where the patient is, snack foods should always be at hand.
- More liquid food.
- Preference should be given to high-calorie foods.
- Sauces, marinades and specific seasonings should be avoided.
- Oncology foods are best steamed. So, they will retain more nutrients.
- Too fat meat, fish, raw eggs, dairy products with high acidity, salted and pickled vegetables should be excluded. Fruits are best consumed in the form of mashed potatoes, jelly, stewed fruit, mousse.
- Avoid carbonated drinks, coffee, sour juices.
- Products containing zinc, selenium, and B vitamins must be present in the diet. This is necessary to restore hairline.
- Food rich in flavonoids, serotonin and endorphin (chocolate, seafood, dry red wine) is beneficial for the body.
Thus, for any person with cancer, the first place should always be nutrition during chemotherapy. Oncology is not a sentence yet. A disease can be cured if it is properly controlled. And to fight, you always need the strength and energy that is contained in healthy food.
Lung cancer: symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Lung cancer is a common type of tumor. It affects men more than women. One of the main causes of tumor formation is the inhalation of carcinogens, in particular, smoking. A significant influence is exerted by the external environment, harmful working conditions (contact with nickel, radon, chromium, radiation).
You can recognize lung cancer by the following symptoms:
- Lingering cough.
- "Whistling" breathing.
- Sputum with blood.
- Weakness, fatigue, malaise.
- Decrease in working capacity, fast fatigue.
- Fever.
- Chest pains.
When symptoms are ignored, the disease goes into an advanced stage, which can be fatal.
Therefore, with the slightest ailment, you should contact the hospital for examination. An accurate diagnosis of cancer is possible only after such tests:
- Sputum cytology.
- Bronchoscopy
- Puncture biopsy.
- CT scan.
Chemotherapy for lung cancer is always an effective treatment. It is carried out both in combination with other methods, and independently. Under the influence of drugs, the growth of cancers stops.
Surgical intervention is possible only in the first - second stage, when the affected areas do not exceed six centimeters. Often a tumor is detected already in the third or fourth stage. Then the operation is simply impossible. In such cases, complex radiation therapy and "chemistry" are prescribed.
Of course, chemotherapy for oncology of the lungs, like other organs, is always side effects. The reaction of the body to medications can be very different - nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, baldness.
Unpleasant sensations will disappear immediately after the cancellation of the course of drugs
Ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is not as common a disease as lung cancer. However, it ranks seventh among tumors in women. In addition, the greatest mortality occurs precisely because of this ailment.
The reason for this is the inability to diagnose the disease at an early stage. Symptoms of the disease are completely absent. The best prevention of ovarian cancer will be an annual examination by your gynecologist. Women who visit a specialist in a timely manner, perform ultrasound diagnostics, are more likely to fully recover in the event of an early diagnosis of cancer.
The risk group consists of women who do not have children who are more than forty-five years old. As well as those who have a predisposition to "female" tumors (the family already had ovarian cancer, cancer of the uterus, appendages, breast cancer).
Ovarian cancer can be detected by ultrasound, biopsy, and computed tomography. A relatively new diagnostic method is a blood test for tumor markers. In the early stages, they are found in the blood. Each tumor marker is responsible for a specific organ. For example, cancer markers CA 125 and AFP indicate ovarian cancer.
The surest way to treat ovarian cancer is surgical. During the operation, the affected areas are removed (often this is the complete or partial removal of the ovaries, tubes, sometimes the uterus).
After surgery, a course of medication is always prescribed. Chemotherapy for ovarian oncology will eliminate the remaining cancer cells.
The best prevention of ovarian cancer and other “female” tumors is pregnancy and childbirth, breastfeeding (at least a year), and the use of oral contraceptives. An important role is also played by a routine examination by a doctor, which is carried out at least once a year.
Prevention of malignant tumors
If earlier the diagnosis of “cancer” sounded like a verdict, today this terrible disease can be defeated! To do this, it is enough to detect the disease in a timely manner and consult a doctor for help. Modern treatment methods can restore a healthy life to the patient. Suspicious symptoms and signs of the disease should never be ignored. Sometimes even simple flu can cause severe complications and the formation of tumor cells.
The best cancer prevention is a healthy lifestyle. Compliance with such simple rules will protect against many ailments:
- Proper and balanced nutrition (especially important when chemotherapy is used for oncology).
- Active way of life, physical education, walks.
- Refusal of bad habits, limited alcohol consumption.
- Vitamins every day.
- The sun is in favor, but not harm. Prolonged sunbathing causes tumors.
- Use of personal protective equipment in hazardous working conditions.
- Regular sex.
- No stress! More positive emotions!
Of course, life is not always what you want. It is not always possible to observe certain rules. However, this must be sought.
Conclusion
Our life is a game - and we are all actors. Someone got the main role, and someone is removed only in episodes. You never know who will come out victorious and who will forever leave this life.
Cancer is the “plague” of the twenty-first century. He does not look at age, gender and status. He “mows” everyone. And although people have found ways to deal with this terrible ailment, however, they do not always bring results.
For example, chemotherapy for oncology in the fourth stages is just a delay in the inevitable. It is effective in the early stages of the disease. Therefore, you should be responsible for your health and the health of your loved ones. Only timely diagnosis will save lives and give hope!