Cancer Assignment

What Is Cancer?
The word cancer is just a broad name for many different diseases. Cancer is the uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these cells to invade other tissues. This unregulated growth is caused by a series of acquired or inherited mutations to DNA within cells. Genetic information that defines the cell functions are destroyed and cell division becomes uncontainable.

Normal Cells vs. Cancer Cells

	Normal Cells Normal cells have a set function while they grow and stay in place. Our bodies' cells continuously divide to replace worn-out cells in a very systematic way. Because worn-out cells need to be replaced, cell division takes place at a slow pace. The balance between the growth and death of cells keeps our bodies functioning normally.
	Cancer Cells Cancer cells have no useful function and are uncontrolled in their division and growth. While normal cells stay where they belong, cancer cells travel through the body. These cells do not stop reproducing. Eventually, a tumor is formed that is made up of billions of duplicates of the original cancer cell.

How Is Cancer Treated?
The good news is that cancer can be treated. There are several options for the patient that has been diagnosed with cancer.

1.	Surgery: Cancer cells and sometimes healthy cells and tissue are removed to ensure the cancer has dissipated.
2.	Radiation Therapy: The type of radiation used will depend on the patient's type of cancer. Sometimes, radiation machines are aimed at a small area of the body. Other times, the radioactive material is placed directly into the cancer so that it harms as few normal cells as possible.
3.	Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a series of powerful drugs that can be administered in several ways that are designed to attack and kill fast-growing cancer cells. Cancer chemotherapy drugs can be administered into a vein, muscle or through the mouth.
	•	Other kinds of medicines:
			- Hormones: Hormone therapy can reduce the level of particular hormones in the patient's body or alter the cancer's ability to use these hormones to grow and metastasize.
			- Monoclonal antibodies: Antibodies are made in large quantities in a laboratory rather than by the patient's immune system.
			- Vaccines: Treatment or therapeutic vaccines are administered to cancer patients and are designed to strengthen the body's natural resistance against cancers that have already developed. These types of vaccines may defend the further growth of existing cancers, prevent the recurrence of cured cancers, or eliminate cancer cells not destroyed by prior treatments.
			- Targeted Therapies: Targeted Cancer Therapies use drugs that interfere with the growth and spread of cancer. Because this type of therapy focuses on molecular and cellular changes that are specific to cancer, it may less harmful to normal cells.
			- Integrative/Complementary Therapies: Used in conjunction with a patient's medical treatment, there are additional therapies that can help enhance health and the quality of life with methods such as relaxation, acupuncture, meditation, hypnotherapy, yoga, exercise and massage.

What Is Chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy treats cancer with powerful drugs that travel through the bloodstream in order to:

	Destroy or slow the growth of cancer cells that have metastasized to other parts of the body
	Shrink the cancer tumors before surgery
	Relieve symptoms caused by cancer such as pain

What Are the Goals of Chemotherapy Treatment?

	Cure - If possible, chemotherapy is used to cure the cancer, meaning that all cancer cells are eliminated and there is no evidence of disease.
	Control - If cure is not possible, the goal is to slow the progression of the disease (stop the cancer from evolving and spreading) in order to extend and provide the best quality of life.
	Prevent recurrence---Preventing recurrence of cancer is given through Adjuvant therapy. This procedure is given to prevent the growth of stray cancer cells lingering in the body after surgery or radiation.
	Shrink tumor before surgery: Shrinking the tumor before surgery, called Neo-adjuvent therapy, may be used to shrink a large tumor so that it can then be removed by surgery, resulting in a less extensive operation.
	Relieve symptoms: Chemotherapy can be given to reduce symptoms such as pain

Staging & Grading
Staging and Grading is the determination of the kinds of cells that make up the cancer and how fast it is growing. The stage and grade of a cancer helps doctors to predict how a cancer might behave, how it has progressed and how well it may react to treatment.

Factors include:

	Location
	Size & spread
	Types of cells
	Clinical history of the disease
	Health status

How Are Chemotherapy Drugs Given?
Depending in the type of cancer the patient has, chemotherapy drugs can be given by:

	Mouth: Tablets, capsules or liquids are given to patients so they are conveniently orally taken at home
	Pills: Tablets, capsules or liquids are orally taken
	Injection: Injections can be given under the skin or into a muscle
	Intravenous (IV): A small tube is inserted into the vein of the hand or lower arm.
	IV infusion - IV infusions drip slowly; the period of time the drip continues may depend on the type and number of medications.
	IV Push - IV infusion tubing, given directly from a syringe, is given by a nurse over a few minutes

An implanted port is recommended to those patients that require frequent and/or long-term delivery of medications directly into the bloodstream. A port can also be suggested by a doctor if smaller veins which are typically used for injection of medications are damaged, injured or have poor blood flow.

 

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