Principles of Cancer Biology, Research Paper Example

There are many different types of cancer and there are therefore many different approaches to the treatment of the disease. Cancer is typically diagnosed by a series of physical and biochemical tests. Detection of most types of cancer rely on the observation of a tumor or a sensation of pain in certain areas of the body. For example, skin cancer can be detected based on observations of cysts in the skin while bone cancers are typically examined due to reported pain in the area. To confirm the malignancy of the tumor, health care professionals often conduct CT or x-ray scans of the area, conduct a biopsy to determine whether the cancerous cells have the ability, and conduct a physical test to determine the physical symptoms of the patient. These results are often confirmed through biochemical tests that examine the biological and chemical components of the blood and urine. Often, these tests are be used to detect the white blood cell counts in patients, and serve as a general indicator of the body’s attempt to fight the invasive cells through its natural immune defense.

While each type of cancer has its own staging method to determine the severity of the disease, most staging methods describe four distinct stages of cancer invasion with Stage I describing the least invasive form of the disease and Stage IV describing the most invasive stage. Patients that have Stage I cancer typically have only a local tumor that has not yet spread to other organs and therefore can be removed more easily. On the other hand, patients that have Stage IV cancer have tumor cells that have metastasized to new locations and have created new tumors (Kleinsmith, 2006). Stage IV is also considered to be advanced stage cancer and is more difficult to operate on.

People who have cancer typically die because the tumor interferes with normal organ function. Furthermore, people living with cancer are likely to experience pain, difficulty breathing, nausea, and weight loss, among other symptoms. As a consequence, several methods have been employed to remove tumors from patients before this can happen. Surgery and chemotherapy are the most popular treatment methods, although immune therapy is also available. Individuals who undergo cancer treatment have the potential to suffer many unique side effects. The most common problem occurs as a result of chemotherapy treatment. Chemotherapy is designed in a manner that allows it to target and kill cancer cells because these cells grow quickly. However, this therapy can also damage other healthy cells that are growing, which creates toxic side effects. In some cases, this can cause organ damage. While surgery to remove a tumor is typically the more preferable option when possible, it is important to consider that an imperfect incision may actually lead to increased rates of cancer spread. Last, cancer drugs have the potential to build up in the kidneys and blood which could create additional organ damage in this manner.

Many methods are used to lessen the physical and psychological effects of cancer. The most common way that doctors attempt to lessen the physical effects of cancer treatment is by determining acceptable doses for treatment based on the patient’s body weight and size and by trying different drug combinations to determine which treatment regimen will be most successful. There are many chemotherapy drugs available on the market and some drugs have more significantly toxic effects of some individuals than others (Tannock, 2005). Therefore, it is likely that the average doctor will have to try a series of drug combinations on a patient before he or she can determine which treatment will maximize efficacy and minimize side effects.

An additional way that the physical effects of cancer is limited is by combining chemotherapy and surgical treatment with a variety of other drugs that patients need to be more comfortable. It is not unusual for patients undergoing cancer treatment to be provided with pain medications both prior to and after their treatment in order to lessen the physical pain associated with their condition. Furthermore, these patients are given drugs to help treat side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, and constipation (Padzur, 2009). By providing these patients with additional medications, it becomes easier to treat the painful symptoms that are associated with treatment in addition to the disease itself.

Most patients undergoing cancer treatment experience high levels of exposed to high levels of psychological stress. In particular, many patients constantly worry about the likelihood that they will be able to live. As a consequence, support groups for cancer patients are common because this helps afflicted individuals talk about the problems that plague them all. Many hospitals offer religious services to their chronically ill and dying patients in order to help them accept what is happening to them and to feel more comfortable about the process. Organization such as the Make a Wish Foundation attempts to help ease this process by providing pediatric cancer patients with a request of their choice.

References

Kleinsmith, Lewis J. (2006). Principles of cancer biology. Pearson Benjamin Cummings.

Pazdur, Richard et al. (May 2009). Cancer Management: A Multidisciplinary Approach. Cmp United Business Media.

Tannock, Ian (2005). The basic science of oncology. McGraw-Hill Professional.