Cancer Treatments

Radiation Therapy & Chemotherapy

• __Radiation therapy - a method used to target leftover cells after a tumor is removed   * Radiation therapy is a __local treatment (only affects the tumor area)
    * Method:
      * High-energy rays stop/slow the growth of cancerous cells
      * Either done through a machine shooting beams into the body or through radiation pellets
    * Side Effects: soreness, sensitivity, skin looking burnt, nausea, fatigue, etc.
• __Chemotherapy - a treatment used to target metastasized cancer cells   * __Metastasized cells - cancerous cells that travel away from the original tumor site to the rest of the body
    * Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment (throughout the body)
    * Method:
      * Drugs are injected into the bloodstream that target rapidly dividing cells
    * Side Effects: hair loss, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, lack of appetite, thinning skin, mouth sores, gum sensitivity, anemia, etc.

Biofeedback Therapy

• __Biofeedback therapy__ makes patients aware of previously unconscious actions such as responses to pain or panic
• Benefits:
    * Less painful and invasive
    * Patients are not reliant on drugs
• Examples:
    * Yoga
    * Meditation

Amputation/Prosthetics

• __Amputation__ - the surgical procedure of removing a limb
    * Typically happens when chemotherapy and radiation fail
• Prosthetics
    * Prosthetics have advanced throughout history to become more responsive to the patient’s wishes

Physical/Occupational Therapy

• Therapy used to accommodate patients to life without previous limbs
• Involves strengthening what’s left of the limb
• Physical therapists build strength in gross and fine skills
    * Gross skills - broader range of movements
    * Fine skills - small and concentrated range of movement (writing)
• Occupational therapists help patients relearn daily activities
    * Ex: how to zip a jacket up