Cancer Treatment Options
The modern era of cancer treatment is constantly evolving hence determining the combinations of treatments to be used is critical. Cancer treatment aims at achieving a complete cure so that patients can live a normal life span. The treatment also aims at shrinking or slowing down the progression of cancer growth to prevent any symptoms for as long as possible (Miller et al., 364). The approaches used in treatment depend on the cancer type, stage level, goal of treatment, and available treatment options. The rate of cancer infections depends on gender, demographic factors, socio-economic factors, and ethnicity/ race. Cancer is highly prevalent among; the female gender, the non-Hispanic White, people within the middle socioeconomic status class, and those who have retired. Cancer treatment can be used as the primary, adjuvant, neoadjuvant, or palliative treatment. The primary treatment completely kills the cancer cells within the body; adjuvant treatment reduces any chances of cancer recurring by killing any cancer cells that may not have been destroyed during primary treatment. Palliative treatment relieves side effects caused by cancer treatment and eases the signs and symptoms of cancer. Neoadjuvant therapy can be used before primary therapy to make primary treatment more effective.
Cancer treatment options that are currently available include; surgery which involves the complete removal of cancer or the removal of as much cancer as possible from the body. Chemotherapy is another treatment option in which drugs are used to kill cancer cells. It helps in cancer treatment, prevents its reoccurrence, slows its growth, and stops spreading. It also helps in shrinking large tumors and relieving cancer pains and symptoms. Cancer cells can also be destroyed through radiation therapy using powered-energy beam rays. The therapy includes; external beam radiation, whereby a machine sends radiation toward a tumor. Internal radiation, in which the source of radiation is put inside or near cancer, and systemic radiation, where a patient is given radioactive drugs either orally or through injection (Miller et al., 364).
The radiofrequency ablation cancer treatment approach uses electrical energy to destroy and kill cancer cells. High-frequency energy passed through a thin needle inserted through the skin/incision heats the surrounding tissues killing cancer cells. Cancer treatment is also through stem cell transplant from a patient’s bone marrow or a donor. Other options include immunotherapy, the body’s immune system fights cancer, and hormone therapy, in which hormones that cause cancer are removed and their effects blocked, like in breast and prostate cancer (Miller et al., 365).
Cancer is a major cause of death after cardiovascular disease in the United States. This calls for public health efforts to help reduce its prevalence. Public health efforts advocate for disease prevention, prolonging life, and promoting health through public health programs, policy changes, research and surveillance, and health communication programs. The public health cancer prevention continuum includes primary prevention by reducing risk factors and environmental changes like human papillomavirus vaccination and tobacco control, secondary prevention like low-dose computed tomography and early detection, and tertiary prevention like cancer survivorship care. Cancer survivors face financial, physical, psychosocial, and cognitive challenges associated with cancer treatment procedures. The public health community helps them address these issues and the consequences of cancer treatment and improves their quality of life. Cancer treatment is costly, and the war against cancer requires consolidated efforts that advocate for prevention (White et al., 4969).
References
Miller, Kimberly D., et al. “Cancer treatment and survivorship statistics, 2019.” CA: a cancer journal for Clinicians 69.5 (2019): 363-385.
White, Mary C., et al. “The history and use of cancer registry data by public health cancer control programs in the United States.” Cancer 123 (2017): 4969-4976.
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Mrs. Williams is a 27-year-old female diagnosed with breast cancer. She is currently in pharmacy school. She does not have children but hopes to have them someday. She has been tested and has a genetic predisposition for this disease.
Cancer Treatment Options
What treatment options does she have?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of those treatment options?
What would you tell Mrs. Williams if she decided to refuse treatment?
Mrs. Williams really wants to have children before she starts treatment. What would you educate her about? Why?