Cell Signaling and Cancer Therapy

Radiation Therapy & Chemotherapy

A lot of treatment preferences are available for patients suffering from cancer. Depending on the type of cancer, the stage of the cancer when the patient is diagnosed, and the patient’s overall health, some treatment options may make more sense, or may be more effective, than others.

Chemotherapy indicates to a type of cancer treatment in which a patient is given drugs that are designed to kill cancer cells. One or more drugs, called cytotoxic anti-neoplastic drugs, may be given at a time, either intravenously or orally. Chemotherapy works by targeting cells within the body that divide swiftly, which is one of the main characteristics of cancer cells. Some normal cells also divide rapidly, such as cells in hair follicles and the digestive tract. These cells are also flawed by chemotherapy, which accounts for copious of the side effects patients experience when undergoing treatment.

Radiation treatment refers to a type of cancer treatment in which high-doses of radiation are delivered to cancerous tumors in the body. The beams of radiation pass through the skin and other materials to target a definite location where a tumor is located. Radiation damages the DNA of the cancer cells, causing them to die. The mechanism of receiving radiation treatment is painless, and side effects are often limited to the areas of the body around the tumors that receive the treatment. Other common side effects include fatigue and skin irritation.