Iv - University of Salford Institutional Repository

Localized radiation is the treatment of choice in some tumours.
For example, cancer of the voice box is often cured with radiation
treatment with little impairment of speech. Although very effective in
treating the tumour, surgery in this case often drastically impairs
speech function. Localized radiation therapy can cure cancer in
carefully controlled use. As mentioned earlier, radiation can, in
other instances and under other conditions, cause cancer.
Chemotherapy is the method of choice in treating many non-localized
cancers, such as leukemia and tumours which have spread. Chemotherapy
utilizes chemicals that interfere with the processes of living cells.
Some chemicals mimic metabolites needed by the cells in the synthesis
of DNA or RNA. These substances are used by the cell, producing
defective nucleic acid leading to cell death. Some drugs inhibit
protein syntheses and other inhibit respiration. In treating cancer,
drug dose must be carefully regulated because these agents are also
harmful to normal cells. But because tumour cells usually are in a
constant state of growth, these drugs tend to become incorporated into
these cells more easily than into normal cells. Individuals undergoing
chemotherapy, however, often display side effects such as hair loss and
nausea as a result of the toxicity of these drugs. Many cancers such
as certain leukemia have been treated effectively with chemotherapy.
In fact, while a decade or two ago, leukemia was considered not
curable, now Many people are free of the disease for five, ten or
fifteen more years as a result of modern chemotherapy.
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