Reconsidering Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy for Cancer

Krisstina Lin

Cancer isn’t new to me

• A cousin to lung cancer in 1999

• Recently, a friend’s aunt to uterine cancer

• A grandfather figure to multiple cancers in 2008

• Diagnosed in October of 2012• Cancer was in remission with chemo until 2

months ago• Passed away after failed attempts with

radiation therapy

Why is This?

And many more ……….

Cameron Duncan 1986-2003

Zach Sobiech 1995-2013

Chemo Only Works on Certain Cancers

• Acute lymphocytic leukemia

• Hodgkin Disease (a cancer of white blood cells)

• Choriocarcinoma (cancer of the placenta)

• Wilm’s Tumor (cancer of the kidneys)

• Retinoblastoma (cancer of the retina)

Chemo Only Works on Certain Cancers

• Acute lymphocytic leukemia

• Hodgkin Disease (a cancer of white blood cells)

• Choriocarcinoma (cancer of the placenta)

• Wilm’s Tumor (cancer of the kidneys)

• Retinoblastoma (cancer of the retina)

Effectiveness = 50% or more reduction in the size of a tumor within 28 days of treatment

Radiation Therapy

• Theory behind radiation is to stop fast dividing cancer cells

• But radiation levels are often much higher than what’s given in x-rays

External Radiation Beam

X

Side Effects – Chemo• Anemia• Appetite changes• Bleeding• Constipation• Diarrhea• Fatigue• Hair loss• Infection• Infertility• Dry mouth (having little or no saliva)• Changes in taste and smell (such as when food

tastes like metal or chalk, has no taste, or does not taste or smell like it used to)

• Infections of your gums, teeth, or tongue• Increased sensitivity to hot or cold foods• Mouth sores• Trouble eating when your mouth gets very sore• Nausea and vomiting• Itching, dryness, redness, rashes, and peeling• Darker veins• Sensitivity to the sun (when you burn very quickly)• Nail problems

• Tingling, burning, weakness, or numbness in your hands or feet

• Feeling colder than normal• Weak, sore, tired, or achy muscles• Being clumsy and losing your balance• Trouble picking up objects or buttoning your

clothes• Shaking or trembling• Hearing loss• Stomach pain, such as constipation or heartburn• Fatigue• Confusion and memory problems• Dizziness• Depression• Pain• Sexual changes• Urinary, kidney, and bladder changes• Flu-like symptoms• Fluid retention• Trouble wearing contact lenses• Blurry vision• Watery eyes

Side Effects – Chemo

Side Effects – Chemo

Nutritional• Ulcers in mouth =

unable to eat• Ulcers in stomach =

unable to digest• Ulcers in intestine =

unable to absorb nutrients

Immunological• Stem cells cannot form

new white blood cells• = lowered immune

systems• = higher chances for

infection

Side Effects – Radiation• Diarrhea• Fatigue• Hair Loss• Mouth sores• Dry mouth and throat• Sore throat• Loss of taste• Tooth decay• Changes in taste• Infections of your gums, teeth, or

tongue• Jaw stiffness and bone changes• Thick, rope-like saliva• Nausea and Vomiting

• Sexual and fertility changes such as impotence, sterility, and pain while having sex

• Redness, dryness, and itchiness of skin

• Pruritus• Moist reaction of skin cells• Swollen Skin• Painful, frequent and/or

having problems urinating• Blood in urine

Side Effects – Radiation

Cancers Can Develop Resistance

Cancers Can Develop Resistance

X X

Cancers Can Develop Resistance

REMEMBER!!!

Chemotherapy and radiation are NOT cures

They are TREATMENTS for the symptoms of cancerFrom a pharmocology point of view, it’s only temporary relief

Remember the definition of effectiveness?

50% or more reduction within 28 days, but what about all the days that follow?

Be Open Minded…

• There is currently no known cure for cancer• Chemo and radiation can help reduce cancer

symptoms, but keep in mind that it’s true effectiveness is not what it seems and in fact can kill you instead

• There are other options available

…There is Hope

Perhaps the best thing is to know your options and know the details……

……and realize that cancer isn’t as scary as we make it out to be.