Oncologist
Oncologist is a doctor who deals with treating and managing cancer. While some oncologists specialise in a specific type of cancer, others deal with diagnosing and treating various kinds of cancer. An oncologist has to identify possible symptoms of cancer and conduct tests that might help diagnose effectively. Often a combination of treatments are suggested to combat cancer.
Diagnostic methods that are often used are biopsy, endoscopy, MRI or CT scan and blood tests. Tumor markers help identify specific types of cancer.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is usually part of cancer treatment administered under the guidance of an oncologist. It is used along with other treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery to control malignant cells. Radiation controls cell growth and plays a vital role in destroying cells or keep them from multiplying. The oncologist will decide on the kind of radiation and dosage of radiation. Some amount of healthy cells are likely to be targeted in the radiation therapy. There are two forms of radiation therapy.
External beam radiation: High powered x-rays are directed into or near the tumor from outside the body.
Internal beam radiation: Here the radiation is done from inside or near the tumor.
The side-effects of radiation therapy are hair loss, nausea, vomiting, skin problems, increased susceptibility to infection and low blood counts. Radiation therapy cannot be used on a pregnant woman. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy seeks to use drugs to treat cancer. It destroys any cancer cells that may spread. The drugs used in the Chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer block the rapidly dividing cancerous cells. Cancerous cells grow and divide out of control. Chemotherapy works at stemming this growth and multiplication of the cancerous cells.
Chemotherapy treatment works just after surgery. Being a systemic treatment, it attacks young and small clusters of cancer cells anywhere in the body. Chemotherapy drugs work best against rapidly dividing cells. The flip side is that they may kill normal cells too. Since cells in the blood, mouth, nose, nails and hair area also undergoing constant and quick division, chemotherapy affects them too. This explains the side effects of chemotherapy such as falling hair, dipping energy levels and infections. Supportive medicines are prescribed to help the body during this phase.
A typical treatment process may involve four to eight cycles of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy reduces the chances of cancer recurring after surgery. The tumours are shrunk with chemotherapy treatment, especially in cases of inflammatory cancer. The chemotherapy drugs are injected through IV needles. Sometimes they are given as pills. Oncologist will monitor your response to the therapy.
Side effects of chemotherapy
Bibliography / Reference
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