The pancreases are one of the most ignored glands in the abdomen. However, they are an important part of the digestive system. Without efficient pancreas controlling blood sugar levels is very hard. Pancreatic cancer is one of the conditions that can affect his gland. It is a rare type of cancer but is very aggressive and has very few symptoms. Hence, in many cases, it is diagnosed only at an advanced stage. Pancreatic cancer can be treated with chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. With advancements in the field of medicine, pancreatic cancer can also be treated with laparoscopic surgery.
Laparoscopic surgery is also known as minimally invasive surgery or keyhole surgery. This technique allows surgical procedures to be performed on the internal organs without making a large cut in the skin. Most laparoscopic procedures need only a 0.5 to a 1.5cm wide incision. As compared to an open surgery, laparoscopic procedures cause less discomfort and heal faster.
When it comes to pancreatic cancer, there are a number of laparoscopic procedures that can be used.
Colorectal cancer, one of the commonest and potentially fatal types of cancer, occurs when timorous growths form in the large intestine. Cancer often develops and progresses without showing symptoms, which is why most often the disease goes undetected in its initial stage. However, screening and diagnosis of colorectal cancer can help detect it while there is still time for treatment.
What are the treatment options for colorectal cancer?
There is no single treatment for cancer. Generally, a combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy are used to treat patients depending on the stage and type of cancer. In more advanced stages, surgery may be recommended to eliminate the cause of cancer from its roots. Treatment aims to ease the symptoms, remove cancer, and prevent its progression.
Here is a look at the different ways to treat colorectal cancer –
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses certain anti-cancer drugs to destroy cancer cells. Either these drugs can be given orally or they can be administered intravenously into the body. Chemotherapy may be used to shrink a larger cancer prior to surgery so that it can be easily removed. Alternatively, it can also be administered after surgery in case the cancer is larger or has metastasized to the lymph nodes. Thus, chemotherapy can kill any remaining cancer cells in the body and help lower the risk of cancer relapse.
Chemotherapy may also help to ease symptoms spreading to other parts of the body that cannot be corrected with surgery. Sometimes, it can also be given in combination with radiation therapy.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is another commonly used treatment approach for colorectal, as well as other types of cancer. The therapy uses high-intensity energy sources, like protons and X-rays to destroy the cancer cells. It might be used to reduce the size of cancer right before surgery so that it can be eliminated with ease. When surgery is not an option, radiation therapy might help to reduce the symptoms of colorectal cancer. Radiation therapy can be combined with chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy
The drug treatment immunotherapy uses your immune system to combat cancer. Your immune system may not attack the cancer cells because they form proteins that keep immune system cells from identifying the cancer cells. Immunotherapy functions by hindering that process. The therapy is usually recommended for advanced colorectal cancer. The doctor will likely test your cancer cells before proceeding with the treatment to see if they are likely to respond.
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy focuses on certain abnormalities found within the cancer cells. Targeted drug therapy can kill cancer cells by blocking these abnormalities. These are often used in combination with chemotherapy, typically for people with end-stage cancer.
Surgery
If all other therapies fail to treat cancer and stop its progression, the doctor might recommend surgery. The different surgical methods used for treatment may include the following –
Colectomy – This involves partial or complete removal of the colon that has become cancerous, as well as its surrounding regions to lower the risk of spreading of cancer.
Endoscopy – The procedure allows the surgeon to eliminate localized, smaller cancer. Endoscopy involves inserting a narrow, flexible tube attached with a camera and light directly into the body to have a detailed look at the cancerous tissues. The procedure assists the surgeon to perform minor surgery and remove the cancerous tissues/organs.
Laparoscopic surgery – During this minimally invasive procedure, the surgeon makes several minute incisions in the abdomen with the help of a camera and an instrument. The camera displays the image of the colon on a monitor, allowing the surgeon to operate the larger polyps.
Palliative surgery – Palliative surgery aims to relieve symptoms if the cancer is beyond treatment. The surgeon, in this case, attempts to relieve any blockage of the colon and manage symptoms like pain and bleeding.
Colorectal cancer, like most other types of cancer, can be treated if detected at an early stage. Reports claim that Stage I and Stage II cancers have a success rate of 80-95% and 55-80% respectively when diagnosed early. The doctor will take into account the overall health condition, age, as well as other characteristics of the patient when deciding on the most appropriate treatment option.
With terminal illnesses like cancer, the disease is not the only thing that requires treatment. In addition to controlling the severity and spread of the main disease, the effect it has on the other body systems including emotional, social, psychological problems and also physical issues like pain and inflammation. Though the disease has reached an advanced stage and cannot be cured, the patient can be made to be pain-free and at peace to the extent possible.
The goal of palliative care is not to cure - in fact, palliative care is in place for diseases like cancer from the time it is diagnosed and treatment is begun but becomes the major component of treatment once the cancer is identified to be in terminal stages. Therapeutic care aimed at curing the cancer is gradually reduced and palliative care assumes a bigger role. This is also called as symptomatic care, supportive care, or comfort care.
Aspects of palliative care: Once the disease is identified to be in terminal stages, then the following become considerations:
As is evident, there is a huge component of social/emotional/spiritual management in addition to reducing pain and suffering:
It is to be noted that palliative care is not just for the patient. The caretakers (family and close friends) are equally in need of some support. So, once the patient is identified to be in terminal stages, all effort is made so the final leg of the journey is peaceful and as painless as possible.
The branch of medicine dealing with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer is called oncology. The subdivisions of oncology include medical oncology, radiation oncology and surgical oncology. Cancer is an umbrella term for a group of diseases which involves abnormal cell growth causing potential invasion to other parts of the body and the branch of science dealing with the treatment of cancer is oncology.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is a kind of cancer treatment which involves the usage of high energy rays, such as X-rays or rays of electrons to treat the disease. In this therapy, the cancer cells are destroyed using these rays. Normal cells along with the cancerous cells also get destroyed due to exposure to the strong rays. However, normal cells can restore themselves but cancerous cells cannot.
Radiotherapy is planned very carefully to avoid the damage to as many healthy tissues as possible. However, damage to some healthy tissues is inevitable, which is the major side effect of this treatment.
Usage of Radiotherapy
A lot of patients with cancer have radiotherapy as a part of their cancer treatment. The reasons behind using radiotherapy could be-
Ways of Radiotherapy Treatment
There are two ways in which radiotherapy is commonly given-
The type of radiotherapy to be given to the patient depends on the type of cancer the patient has and the body part which is affected by it. Some cancers require both external and internal radiotherapy.
Chemo Radiation
In certain situations, chemotherapy is required to be given to the patients along with radiotherapy. This is called chemo radiotherapy or chemo radiation. Chemotherapy basically uses anti-cancer drugs which make the cancerous cells more sensitive to radiotherapy, thereby enhancing the treatment process. However, both these therapies are very powerful, each with their own side effects. Hence, chemo radiation can sometimes have worse side effects.
Technological Advances-
This is just the basic overview of radiotherapy. One important thing that should be kept in mind is that radiotherapy treatments are planned depending on the condition of the patient. So even if two individuals suffer from the same type of cancer, the radiotherapy treatments might be different.
In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!
Treatment of Endometrial cancer
Homeopathic Treatment of Endometrial cancer
Acupuncture & Acupressure Treatment of Endometrial cancer
Psychotherapy Treatment of Endometrial cancer
Conventional / Allopathic Treatment of Endometrial cancer
Surgical Treatment of Endometrial cancer
Dietary & Herbal Treatment of Endometrial cancer
Other Treatment of Endometrial cancer
What is Endometrial cancer
Symptoms of Endometrial cancer
Causes of Endometrial cancer
Risk factors of Endometrial cancer
Complications of Endometrial cancer
Lab Investigations and Diagnosis of Endometrial cancer
Precautions & Prevention of Endometrial cancer
Treatment of Endometrial cancer
Homeopathic Treatment of Endometrial Cancer
Treatment can be preventive and supportive. It relieves complaints, heals affected tissue and improves overall health. Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. Treatment is constitutional. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. It balances the energy system, improves immunity and body functions. It naturally cures the root cause of disorder. Some of the homeopathic medicines for endometrial cancer are:
Hydras
Conium
Ars I
Kreos
Lil T
Murex
Conventional / Allopathic Treatment of Endometrial cancer
Allopathic Treatment of Endometrial cancer involves the following therapies:
Radiation therapy – it uses powerful energy beams, such as X-rays, to kill cancer cells
Hormone therapy – it involves taking medications that affect hormone levels in the body.
Chemotherapy – it uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. You may receive chemotherapy drugs by pill (orally) or through your veins.
Surgical Treatment of Endometrial cancer
Surgery to remove the uterus as well as to remove the fallopian tubes and ovaries is recommended for most women with endometrial cancer.
Dietary & Herbal Treatment of Endometrial cancer
Eat diet rich in fruits and vegetables
Avoid baked goods and fried and greasy foods
Avoid diet high in animal fats
Eat cold-water fish that contain omega-3 fatty acids
What is Endometrial cancer?
Endometrial cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the uterus. It begins in the layer of cells that form the lining (endometrium) of the uterus.
Symptoms of Endometrial cancer
Vaginal bleeding after menopause
Prolonged periods or bleeding between periods
Pelvic pain
Pain during intercourse
Pain or difficulty when emptying the bladder
An abnormal, watery or blood-tinged discharge from your vagina
Causes of Endometrial cancer
The exact cause of endometrial cancer is not known. Something occurs to create a genetic mutation within cells in the endometrium. The genetic mutation turns normal, healthy cells into abnormal cells. The accumulating abnormal cells form a mass (tumor).
Risk factors of Endometrial cancer
As you get older
Changes in the balance of female hormones in the body
More years of menstruation
Never having been pregnant
Hormone therapy for breast cancer
An inherited colon cancer syndrome
Complications of Endometrial cancer
Endometrial cancer can spreads most often to the lungs
Diagnosis of Endometrial cancer
Diagnosis of Endometrial cancer involves the following tests:
Pelvic exam
Using sound waves to create a picture of your uterus
Using a scope to examine your endometrium
Removing a sample of tissue for testing
Performing surgery to remove tissue for testing
Precautions & Prevention of Endometrial cancer
Consider taking birth control pills
Maintain a healthy weight
Talk to your doctor about the risks of hormone therapy after menopause
Exercise most days of the week