Cancer therapy

Thanks to modern medicine, the chances of a cure for cancer have increased steadily over the past three decades. The combination of preventive measures, the use of further developed diagnostic procedures and an improved one Cancer therapy led to the fact that many cancer patients can lead a largely normal life despite the terrifying diagnosis.

What is cancer therapy?

The currently most commonly used forms of Cancer therapy are operations, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Some types of tumors also respond to hormonal or immune therapies. Stem cell or bone marrow transplants are used as cancer therapy for certain types of lymphatic cancer or for leukemia.

In the case of many cancers, several cancer therapies are combined to increase their effectiveness and also accompanied by psychological and physical support measures. For example, targeted pain therapy in the treatment of tumor pain in 90% of those affected provides extensive pain relief or complete freedom from pain. Which cancer therapy is right for each patient depends on their individual characteristics.

Function, effect & goals

As part of a Cancer therapy Surgery performed is aimed at completely removing the cancerous tissue. To ensure this, parts of the neighboring healthy tissue are also removed in order to remove isolated tumor cells that may have penetrated as far as this.

In the chemotherapy substances (cytostatics) are used that suppress cell proliferation. Cancer therapy can prevent further growth of the tumor. It is possible to use either single or a combination of several chemotherapeutic substances. In many cases, special therapy schemes ensure that the drug combinations are taken at precisely specified intervals during cancer therapy.

In the radiotherapy the tumor is prevented from growing by radioactive radiation. The aim of this type of cancer therapy is the complete elimination of the cancer focus and thus healing. It is often performed after an operation to destroy remaining tumor tissue. For this purpose, X-rays are used specifically in cancer therapy using radiation. This is one of the ionizing forms of radiation, the energy of which is high enough to set biological reactions in motion in body cells, which damage the cells and lead to their death.

Certain hormones can increase the growth of some forms of cancer. This fact is used in cancer therapy Anti-hormone therapy as well as hormone replacement therapy. The body's own hormones are specifically switched off or replaced in order to prevent the tumors from growing. This form of cancer therapy is often used in addition to surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy in the treatment of certain forms of prostate cancer, uterine cancer, breast cancer or thyroid cancer.

Cancer therapy for blood cancer and malignant lymph gland cancer often consists of high-dose chemotherapy and radiation therapies that destroy the bone marrow in addition to the cancer cells. Following cancer therapy, stem cells are administered to the patient by means of stem cell transplantation, from which bone marrow cells can develop and the blood-forming system can be rebuilt. An alternative to stem cell transplantation as part of cancer therapy is the transplantation of bone marrow from a suitable donor.

Risks, side effects & dangers

The side effects of this Cancer therapy are due to the fact that the drugs used cannot differentiate between healthy cells and tumor tissue. This means that even the body tissues not affected by the cancer are impaired in their ability to reproduce during cancer therapy.

In some cases, this cancer therapy also removes other affected organs and lymph nodes. An operation for cancer is therefore not without risks. Problems can arise when other organs, blood vessels or nerves are injured, which can lead to bleeding and bleeding. In the area of ​​the surgical wound, infections, adhesions and also blood clots can occur as a result of cancer therapy.

This can have a particular effect on the fabric. In particular, constantly renewing hair roots, blood-forming bone marrow and mucous membranes. During chemotherapy, hair loss, anemia and inflammation of the oral mucosa can occur. Nausea and vomiting are also common side effects of cancer therapy with cytostatics, but can be treated quite well with appropriate medication.

Since radiation therapy also affects healthy tissue, cancer therapy also has side effects such as loss of appetite, fatigue, diarrhea and headaches. This so-called radiation hangover disappears after a short time. Since this form of cancer therapy involves increased radiation exposure, skin irritations (radiation dermatitis) and mucous membrane irritations often occur. Inflammation of the gums, esophagus, stomach and intestinal inflammation as well as inflammation of the urinary bladder can also result from this cancer therapy.

When treating breast cancer with hormone therapy, menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, genital itching, vaginal bleeding, circulatory problems and headaches are common.