Therapies

External radiotherapy

Externalities or external radiation therapy - a treatment using radiation, directed externally to the affected areas of the body. Usually it is used to treat thyroid cancer in the late stages, or anaplastic carcinoma.

The duration of treatment will depend on the type of cancer and its rate of growth. Side effects of radiotherapy:

• Nausea;
• Vomiting;
• Fatigue;
• Pain when swallowing;
• Dry mouth.

These side effects are usually tested after 2-3 weeks after radiotherapy.

Chemotherapy

Usually, chemotherapy is used only to treat anaplastic thyroid cancer, gave metastasized to other areas of the body.

Chemotherapy - a treatment with powerful drugs to kill cancer cells. She rarely successful cures anaplastic cancer, but can slow its development and alleviate symptoms.

Possible side effects of chemotherapy:

• Nausea;
• Vomiting;
• Fatigue;
• Lack of appetite;
• Hair loss;
• The formation of ulcers in the mouth.

In addition, people who are undergoing chemotherapy, are more prone to various infections.

Targeted therapy

Currently, clinical trials are several types of targeted therapies for cancer treatment of medullary thyroid cancer Medullary thyroid cancer: identification of disease   in the later stages, differentiated thyroid cancer is not treatable with radioactive iodine, and anaplastic cancer.

Targentnaya or targeted therapy involves the use of medications that target biological functions required for cancer growth and spread. For example, there is an enzyme that promotes the growth of cancer cells. Preparation for targeted therapy, known as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, specifically designed to block the action of this enzyme. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are, for example, sunitinib and sorafenib.

None of the currently available tyrosine kinase inhibitors has not been approved as a drug for treatment of thyroid cancer Thyroid cancer: it is curable As to ensure their efficacy and safety is not enough data.

A specialist may recommend taking drugs of this type, if:

• In his opinion, the likelihood that the drug will be effective, is very high;
• The best alternatives for treatment available;
• The possible benefits of treatment are larger than the associated risks.

If the doctor decides to appoint a patient receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors, it should inform him about all the possible benefits and risks, as well as the fact that the drug is not officially approved for the treatment of thyroid cancer.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors - are very powerful drugs that can cause many side effects, including:

• Burning and soreness in the language;
• Stomach upset;
• Nausea;
• Vomiting;
• Diarrhea;
• Symptoms are similar to flu symptoms, such as fever and muscle pain;
• Loss of appetite.

As a rule, patients rarely has the opportunity to assign patients to these drugs. Another possibility is to take them - participation in clinical trials. However, it should be borne in mind that there is no guarantee that the experimental therapy would be more effective than available in conventional hospitals traditional therapies.

New therapy for thyroid cancer: a long life

Scientists have discovered a new, aggressive treatment for anaplastic thyroid cancer, which can dramatically increase the survival of patients with this disease.

The new approach is based on the need to aggressively treat metastasized, even if the cancer probably is growing only within the neck.

Traditionally, anaplastic thyroid cancer Thyroid cancer: it is curable   treated by surgery and radiotherapy, but because of its rapid spread annual survival was only 20%. Since the prognosis for patients with this diagnosis unfavorable, the scientists decided that a more aggressive approach to treatment.

Of the 24 patients who participated in the study, 10 underwent a new type of therapy for anaplastic thyroid cancer. After the surgery he was appointed intensive modulated radiotherapy and aggressive chemotherapy - these two methods were to simultaneously monitor the development of tumors in the thyroid gland The thyroid gland - is responsible for your hormones   and to prevent the appearance of distant metastases.

One-year survival in these patients was 70%, six out of ten subjects stayed for at least two years after the cessation of therapy, while five of these symptoms were absent. Two patients in the test group were aggressive treatment of more than three years ago and they are still saved in remission.

How and why there is a pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer occurs them epithelium (tissue cover) glandular tissue or epithelium of the pancreatic ducts. Under the influence of a number of reasons in the pancreas begins to change the structure of cells. There are so-called atypical (more or less immature) cells from which the cancer is formed. Pancreatic cancer can be in the following forms: a cancer of the head, the body, the tail and the entire gland.

Currently, it is known that pancreatic cancer may cause long-term smoking. The remaining causes of pancreatic cancer do not look so specifically, it:

• the nature of power: the use of large quantities of meat, including fried, contributes to the development of cancer, and drinking plenty of fruits and vegetables is the prevention of the disease;
• diabetes: not determined that diabetes is a cause of cancer, but this disease has a proliferation of ductal epithelium of the pancreas; moreover, pancreatic cancer, and diabetes are often combined;
• long flowing chronic inflammation of the pancreas; In the pancreatic ducts formed stagnation digestive juice, which causes irritation of the tissues and the appearance of atypical cells;
• biliary tract disease.

How is cancer of the pancreatic head

Cancer of the pancreas head Diabetes and pancreas - the things you need to know   in the early stages it goes unnoticed. The first sign of the disease is often a pain in the upper abdomen and right below the ribs, extending to the back and sometimes specific to the pancreas girdle pain.

The next sign - growing wanton weight loss, weakness, fatigue, decreased performance, this is due to the fact that disturbed digestion.

As the tumor grows squeezing the common bile duct, which empties into the pancreatic duct, which is why there is increasing the intensity of jaundice (yellow skin and sclera, dark urine and discolored stools) and itching of the skin - this is due to the fact that bile pigments does not fall in the feces and in the blood, coloring and irritating the skin. At the same time there are nausea, belching Belching: why it happens and that means , Vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite.

Symptoms of cancer of the body and tail of the pancreas

Cancer of the body or tail of the pancreas begins more quietly than cancer of the head, as not always cause jaundice. Most prostate cancer cells grow in the body blood vessels, in some cases, they destroy the islets of Langerhans, which produce insulin The principles of action of insulin - the science of saving lives And then join the signs of diabetes mellitus. With the defeat of the tail of the pancreas tumors often grow in the spleen.

Characterized arching pain in the center of the upper abdomen and left upper quadrant. In some cases, concerned about pain in the same place, in other cases - the localization of the pain varies. Sometimes blunt background of constant pain appear short-term bouts of acute pain. The pain may be aggravated by abuse of diet: a fatty, fried foods or alcohol. Thus it becomes extremely strong, unbearable, it can acquire herpes character. One of the earliest signs of the disease - weight loss and weakness.

Detection of the disease

To confirm pancreatic cancer conducted radiographic (magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, retrograde cholangiopancreatography - research ducts of the liver and pancreas), ultrasound, and a study of the state of the pancreas during diagnostic operation using a special device - a laparoscope. There are also laboratory tests: a blood test for the presence of bile pigments and pancreatic enzymes, and blood tests for tumor markers Blood tests for tumor markers - possibilities of modern diagnostics   (substances that produce tumor in human blood).

Treatment of pancreatic cancer may be conducted using surgery followed by radiation therapy and drug therapy (chemotherapy). If the tumor can not be removed by surgery, radiation therapy is combined with the drug.

  Galina Romanenko