Nuclear Oncology

Posts Tagged ‘Brachytherapy’

* Approximately one third of patients with lung cancer are diagnosed with localized disease can be treated either by surgical resection, or if the patient is a candidate for complete surgical resection, radiation therapy defined. Another third of patients have the disease spread to the lymph nodes. In such cases, radiation therapy is used in combination with chemotherapy and sometimes surgery. The last third of patients may have tumors that have spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream, which are usually treated with chemotherapy and sometimes radiation therapy to relieve symptoms.
* Surgery, with removal of all the lobe where the tumor is located, is the primary treatment for patients with early stage cancer who have a good general state of health. The goal of surgery is to completely eliminate all tumor cells and thus cure the disease. Unfortunately, lung cancer usually develops in smokers over 50 years of age, who often already have lung disease or other serious health conditions that increase the risk of surgery. The location and size of a lung tumor determine the extent of surgery. Open thoracotomy or less invasive video-assisted thoracic surgery using small incisions, may be recommended for some properly selected patients.
* Lobectomy, removing an entire lobe of lung is an accepted procedure to remove the cancer when the lungs are working well. The risk of death is 3 to 4 percent, and tends to be higher in older patients. If lung function does not allow for a lobectomy, a small cancer and confined to a limited area can be removed with a small portion of lung tissue. This is called resection sublobar and can be a wedge resection or segmentectomy. There is a possible risk of recurrence higher with a more limited surgery with lobectomy. The smaller the portion of lung removed, the lower lung function than the patient loses, and carries a mortality risk due to the operation of 1.4 percent. If necessary to remove the entire lung for pneumonectomy, the mortality rate is expected 5 to 8 percent. Older patients have higher risk and it is very common for the cancer returning. Read the rest of this entry »

The colon and rectum, also called colorectal cancer, is the term used to describe malignant tumors in the colon and rectum. The colon and rectum are part of the large intestine of the digestive system, commonly called the gastrointestinal tract. Typically, the colon is the upper intestine, and is about 5 or 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 m), the rectum is the lower part, located on the anus, is about 5 to 7 inches (13 to 18 cm).

In the United States, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer. However, thanks to better tests that allow early detection, when cancer is easily treated, the number of deaths from this disease has decreased. Physical activity and good nutrition are associated with reduced colorectal cancer incidence. In the United States approximately 150 000 diagnosed cases of colorectal cancer every year.

Overview of treatment options

Treatment options for colorectal cancer depend on tumor stage, ie, how much it has spread or how deep it has come to the bowel wall and other tissues as well as if placed in the colon or rectum. In general, patients with colon cancer receiving chemotherapy after surgery if the lymph node is positive. Patients with positive lymph nodes or tumors that extend into the fatty tissue surrounding the rectum receiving chemotherapy and radiation, usually before surgery. Treatment also depends on age, medical history, general health status of patients and their tolerance for specific medications and treatments. Read the rest of this entry »