Chemotherapy is a drug-based cancer treatment designed to limit or kill malignant cells either locally or throughout the body. Intra-arterial chemotherapy is a localized treatment that seeks to halt cancer cells with minimal harmful impact on other body systems.
The Facts
- During intra-arterial chemotherapy, doctors supply chemo drugs directly to the artery responsible for providing cancer cells with a blood supply, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Artery Location
- To locate the proper artery, doctors use an X-ray technique called angiography, which utilizes a special injected dye to help visualize the artery’s location, according to Chemocare.com.
Methods
- Doctors can administer intra-arterial chemotherapy either through a temporary catheter inserted in the proper artery or through a pump and associated catheter implanted between the skin and underlying muscle, reports Chemocare.com.
Uses
- Doctors most commonly use intra-arterial chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer that has spread from the colon to the liver, according to Chemocare.com. Additional potential applications include treatment of pancreatic and gastric cancers, limb sarcoma, and head and neck cancers.
Considerations
- The Liver Cancer Network notes that evidence for increased survival rates from intra-arterial chemotherapy is limited.
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with drugs. There are a numberof chemotherapy drugs used to treat lung cancer. Although thechemotherapy drugs work differently, they all kill cancer cells or preventtheir growth. A single dose of chemotherapy will only kill a percentage of cancer cells. Therefore multiple doses or cycles are necessary.
Every lung cancer patient is different. How frequently the treatment is given will depend on the drugs being used, how well you tolerate the treatment and how your cancer responds to the chemotherapy. [click to continue…]
Colorectal cancer Medical treatment
The type of treatment depends on the stage of development of cancer. The type of treatment depends on the stage of development of cancer. More cancer is detected early in its evolution, the better the results. More cancer is detected early in its evolution, the better the results.
Surgery
Surgery is the main treatment. Surgery is the main treatment. It aims to remove the affected portion of the colon or rectum, and some healthy tissue around the tumor. It aims to remove the affected portion of the colon or rectum, and some healthy tissue around the tumor. If the tumor is at an early stage, it is sometimes possible to simply remove polyps during a colonoscopy. If the tumor is at an early stage, it is sometimes possible to simply remove polyps during a colonoscopy.
If the cancer has reached the rectum and a large portion of tissue had to be removed, it has a colostomy. If the cancer has reached the rectum and a large portion of tissue had to be removed, it has a colostomy. This is to create an artificial anus through a new opening in the abdomen. This is to create an artificial anus through a new opening in the abdomen. Feces are then evacuated in a pocket adhesive located outside the body. Feces are then evacuated in a pocket adhesive located outside the body. [click to continue…]