Therapies Used in Cancer Treatment
Therapies used in the treatment of cancer
The treatment for a specific disease with which the child was diagnosed will be selected by the medical team based on international protocols approved in the Republic of Moldova. The choice of treatment generally depends on several factors, including the type of cancer and the stage of the disease, the possible side effects, the family's preferences and the child's general health. The treatment plan may also include treatment for side effects and symptoms, it is a very important aspect of a cancer treatment.
Analyze the treatment options available to your child and do not be afraid to ask questions if you have any unclear moments. You should also discuss the goals of each treatment that your doctors recommend, as well as what happens during treatment. The following are general descriptions of treatments that can be used to treat children's cancer:
Surgical interventions
Surgical interventions consist in removing the tumor, either cancerous or pre-cancerous, as well as the tissue around it. Many children with tumors need surgery at some point during treatment. An oncologist surgeon is a doctor specialized in the treatment of tumors through surgery. The purpose of the surgery is to remove the entire tumor and the marginal tissue (the tissue around the tumor), leaving a negative edge (no cancer cells in the healthy tissue). In the case of most tumors that occur in children, they cannot be completely removed, so doctors recommend chemotherapy, radiation therapy or other types of treatment. Side effects of surgical intervention depend on the location and type of the tumor, as well as the existence, or not, of metastases.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is one of the basic methods of cancer treatment to eliminate cancer cells, usually by destroying their ability to multiply and grow.
Systematic chemotherapy is delivered through the blood, to get to the cancer cells in the body. Chemotherapy is given intravenously, through an infusion of which the needle is inserted into the vein or under the skin, or orally, in the form of pills. The chemotherapy plan usually consists of several cycles, which are administered over a certain period. Some patients may receive a medicine, or a combination of medicines at the same time. Chemotherapy is recommended by a pediatric oncologist. The dose is calculated individually for each child, taking into account the weight, height, age of the child and the concomitant pathologies from which the patient suffers.
The effects of chemotherapy depend on the patient and the dose of medicines used, but these may include fatigue, increased risk of infection, increased risk of bleeding, nausea and vomiting, hair loss, loss of appetite and diarrhea. These side effects disappear, most of the time, once the treatment is over.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy involves the use of X-rays or other particles, such as photons, to destroy cancer cells. In general, radiotherapy with external rays from external medical equipment, or with a type of radiotherapy called brachytherapy, is used. Treatment is prescribed by the radiologist, the dose of radiation (measured in Gray) is focused only on the tumor area and destroys it without affecting the surrounding healthy tissues. The treatment is performed in several innings over a period of time. Side effects may include fatigue, nausea, and bowel problems, depending on the part of the body where the treatment is performed. Most side effects go away when the treatment is over. Irradiated places throughout the treatment and after its completion must be protected from prolonged exposure to sunlight, it is contraindicated to process the given areas with preparations containing iodine and creams containing metals.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy, also called biological therapy, is used to improve the body's defense system against cancer. In immunotherapy, either substances produced by the body or created in the laboratory are used to improve or restore the functions of the immune system. Immunotherapy uses vaccines, monoclonal antibodies and interferon.
Stem cell transplantation / bone marrow transplantation
A stem cell transplant is a medical procedure by which the bone marrow containing cancer cells is replaced by specialized cells, called hematopoietic stem cells, which help restore a healthy marrow. Hematopoietic stem cells are cells that are found in the blood and bone marrow. Nowadays, this procedure is more known as stem cell transplantation, and less so as bone marrow transplantation, because what is actually transplanted is the stem cells in the blood, and not the actual bone marrow. Before recommending this transplant, doctors will discuss with the patient and his / her family the risks of this type of treatment and take into account other factors such as the type of cancer, the results of previous treatments, the age and general health of the patient.
There are two types of stem cell transplantation, depending on the source from which stem cells are taken: allotransplantation (ALLO) and autotransplantation (AUTO). In ALLO, stem cells taken from a healthy donor are used, while in AUTO the patient's stem cells are used. In both types of transplantation, the goal is to destroy all cancer cells in the marrow, blood and other parts of the body, using high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, and then leaving the transplanted stem cells to form healthy bone marrow.
In the Republic of Moldova, all types of children’s cancer treatments are performed, except for Stem Cell Transplantation, which is currently not accessible.
The treatment for a specific disease with which the child was diagnosed will be selected by the medical team based on international protocols approved in the Republic of Moldova. The choice of treatment generally depends on several factors, including the type of cancer and the stage of the disease, the possible side effects, the family's preferences and the child's general health. The treatment plan may also include treatment for side effects and symptoms, it is a very important aspect of a cancer treatment.
Analyze the treatment options available to your child and do not be afraid to ask questions if you have any unclear moments. You should also discuss the goals of each treatment that your doctors recommend, as well as what happens during treatment. The following are general descriptions of treatments that can be used to treat children's cancer:
- Surgical interventions
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Stem cell transplantation / bone marrow transplantation
Surgical interventions
Surgical interventions consist in removing the tumor, either cancerous or pre-cancerous, as well as the tissue around it. Many children with tumors need surgery at some point during treatment. An oncologist surgeon is a doctor specialized in the treatment of tumors through surgery. The purpose of the surgery is to remove the entire tumor and the marginal tissue (the tissue around the tumor), leaving a negative edge (no cancer cells in the healthy tissue). In the case of most tumors that occur in children, they cannot be completely removed, so doctors recommend chemotherapy, radiation therapy or other types of treatment. Side effects of surgical intervention depend on the location and type of the tumor, as well as the existence, or not, of metastases.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is one of the basic methods of cancer treatment to eliminate cancer cells, usually by destroying their ability to multiply and grow.
Systematic chemotherapy is delivered through the blood, to get to the cancer cells in the body. Chemotherapy is given intravenously, through an infusion of which the needle is inserted into the vein or under the skin, or orally, in the form of pills. The chemotherapy plan usually consists of several cycles, which are administered over a certain period. Some patients may receive a medicine, or a combination of medicines at the same time. Chemotherapy is recommended by a pediatric oncologist. The dose is calculated individually for each child, taking into account the weight, height, age of the child and the concomitant pathologies from which the patient suffers.
The effects of chemotherapy depend on the patient and the dose of medicines used, but these may include fatigue, increased risk of infection, increased risk of bleeding, nausea and vomiting, hair loss, loss of appetite and diarrhea. These side effects disappear, most of the time, once the treatment is over.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy involves the use of X-rays or other particles, such as photons, to destroy cancer cells. In general, radiotherapy with external rays from external medical equipment, or with a type of radiotherapy called brachytherapy, is used. Treatment is prescribed by the radiologist, the dose of radiation (measured in Gray) is focused only on the tumor area and destroys it without affecting the surrounding healthy tissues. The treatment is performed in several innings over a period of time. Side effects may include fatigue, nausea, and bowel problems, depending on the part of the body where the treatment is performed. Most side effects go away when the treatment is over. Irradiated places throughout the treatment and after its completion must be protected from prolonged exposure to sunlight, it is contraindicated to process the given areas with preparations containing iodine and creams containing metals.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy, also called biological therapy, is used to improve the body's defense system against cancer. In immunotherapy, either substances produced by the body or created in the laboratory are used to improve or restore the functions of the immune system. Immunotherapy uses vaccines, monoclonal antibodies and interferon.
Stem cell transplantation / bone marrow transplantation
A stem cell transplant is a medical procedure by which the bone marrow containing cancer cells is replaced by specialized cells, called hematopoietic stem cells, which help restore a healthy marrow. Hematopoietic stem cells are cells that are found in the blood and bone marrow. Nowadays, this procedure is more known as stem cell transplantation, and less so as bone marrow transplantation, because what is actually transplanted is the stem cells in the blood, and not the actual bone marrow. Before recommending this transplant, doctors will discuss with the patient and his / her family the risks of this type of treatment and take into account other factors such as the type of cancer, the results of previous treatments, the age and general health of the patient.
There are two types of stem cell transplantation, depending on the source from which stem cells are taken: allotransplantation (ALLO) and autotransplantation (AUTO). In ALLO, stem cells taken from a healthy donor are used, while in AUTO the patient's stem cells are used. In both types of transplantation, the goal is to destroy all cancer cells in the marrow, blood and other parts of the body, using high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, and then leaving the transplanted stem cells to form healthy bone marrow.
In the Republic of Moldova, all types of children’s cancer treatments are performed, except for Stem Cell Transplantation, which is currently not accessible.
