Cancer treatment has significantly evolved with the rise of various approaches to combating this complex disease. In this article, we'll examine a few of these treatments to better understand how developments in technology and research have affected patient outcomes and quality of life.
Surgery has been one of the most effective methods of treating cancer. However, this is limited to early-stage cancer which remains localised in certain organs in the body. New technology such as robotic surgery has aided in making these surgeries less invasive and more precise. One example is the da Vinci surgical system which is especially valuable when operating in delicate areas such as the prostate or kidneys. However, post-operative care and rehabilitation may come at a high cost for patients and may take up to a month to recover, with up to a year of check-up appointments.
Perhaps the most common type of treatment is chemotherapy. It treats many different types of cancers by disrupting the cell cycle, which inhibits cell division. It can then target the specific phases of the cycle ( growth, DNA replication, preparation for division, and mitosis) by using specific drugs. Antimetabolites target the DNA replication phase by trembling nucleotides and thus inhibit true DNA synthesis, so the cell either cannot finish DNA replication or contains damaged DNA that can't be used for protein synthesis in the cell. Next, alkylating agents attach to the DNA of cancer cells and add alkyl groups to the DNA which attach to the guanine base, which causes abnormal bonding and cross-links within the DNA molecule. Finally, Mitotic inhibitors specifically target the mitotic phase, similarly by binding to the DNA and disrupting the double helix structure. However, by attacking healthy cells, a patient's quality of life usually suffers during treatment.
Immunotherapy has been effective at treating melanoma and lung cancer, although it is not always suitable for patients with different types of cancer. It includes CAR-T therapy which modifies the patient's immune cells. T-cells are extracted and modified to contain a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) on their cell surface membranes. They are expanded in the lab and then re-infused into the patient. It offers a more individualistic style of care, however, the development time and approval process suggest that it's more suitable for patients with early-stage cancer.
The final treatment we’ll be looking at is stem cell transplantation. This is a highly effective way to treat blood cancers and is highly specialised. However, due to this and the difficulties of finding matching donors, it may require lengthy hospital stays. It required high-dose chemotherapy initially to destroy cancer cells in the bone marrow. Afterwards, healthy stem cells are infused into the bloodstream and travel to the bone marrow where they can replicate and further produce healthy blood cells. This can also help the patient develop new healthy white blood cells which can aid in their recovery from chemotherapy.
These are just a handful of the many cancer procedures that have been developed. Effective cancer treatments exist, though each has its unique advantages and limitations. Ongoing research will continue to integrate these modalities, improving outcomes and enhancing the experiences of cancer patients.
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