What is Chemotherapy? How is it applied?

Chemotherapy is a drug treatment method applied to control the proliferation of cancerous cells or to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy, literally, describes drug therapy (cytotoxic). Chemotherapy damages cells that continue to divide when delivered into the bloodstream. At the center of each cell is an area called the nucleus. The nucleus, which can also be defined as the control center of cells, contains chromosomes made of genes. When a cell divides to reproduce, it is genetically copied exactly. Chemotherapy damages the nucleus of cells that are about to divide, rendering the cell ineffective. It also affects the chemical process that takes place during division and prevents the cell from dividing. Chemotherapy, which consists of a mixture of one or more drugs commonly used against cancer, can also be administered orally, injected into the vein or intramuscularly.

What is Chemotherapy?

All tissues in the body consists of cells. Although many cells stop dividing and multiplying after the person completes their physical development, when a damage occurs in the body, the cells continue to divide and multiply again.

During division, cells copy their own DNA and ensure the formation of the same cell. Cancerous cells, on the other hand, are constantly dividing and multiplying in an uncontrolled way, unlike healthy cells. With the continuation of proliferation, it leads to the formation of a mass called a tumor over time.
Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment consisting of a combination of one or more anticancer drugs. Chemotherapy, which aims to completely eliminate cancerous cells, can also be applied to improve the patient's quality of life and prolong his life. Chemotherapy prevents cancer cells from dividing, multiplying and spreading.
Chemotherapy, which also causes cancer cells to die, also damages some healthy body cells that multiply relatively quickly, such as intestines, hair, and skin. This is the reason why people who receive chemotherapy experience side effects such as hair loss, nausea and vomiting. However, these side effects are ignored as it allows the person to get rid of cancer or to prolong their life span.

Chemotherapy Types What are the ri?

Chemotherapy administered by physicians of the medical oncology department is widely used for cancer treatment. The medical oncologist determines the drug or drug combinations to be given to the patient for the chemotherapy process according to the patient's current condition.
In other words, drugs are selected by considering the type of tumor, its location, areas of spread, general health and age of the patient. The frequency of administration of chemotherapy is determined by medical oncologists in the light of similar parameters. Different types of chemotherapy are used for different purposes:

• Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: It is aimed to shrink the common tumor and thus to make the person ready for the operation. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, also known as diminutive cancer treatment, also allows the cancerous tissue to be differentiated from healthy tissue. It is mostly applied as 1 to 4 cures in regional but advanced cancer types such as breast, colon and rectum.

• Adjuvant Chemotherapy: It is a type of chemotherapy applied to clear the remaining cancerous cells from the body after the tumor is surgically cleared. Adjuvant chemotherapy method, which aims to reduce the possibility of cancer recurrence, is also known as preventive treatment.

• Palliative Chemotherapy: This type of chemotherapy, which is applied to reduce the complaints of cancer patients and increase their quality of life, is a supportive treatment method. Also known as. It is applied to reduce the patient's complaints such as pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and edema in severe and/or progressive cancer cases, and to meet their psychological needs.

In other words, palliative chemotherapy is a type of treatment that reduces the complaints of the person so that they can carry out their daily activities.

How is Chemotherapy Applied?

Chemotherapy is to treat cancer, It is an effective treatment method applied to slow the growth of cancer, prevent its spread or to destroy cancer cells in the areas that are likely to spread in the early period. Chemotherapy is done with different drugs, depending on the type of cancer and its spread. More than 100 types of drugs are used in chemotherapy, drugs, antitumor antibiotics, antimetabolites, alkylating agents, antimetabolites, nitrosoureas, plant alkaloids, hormones and those that cannot be classified, are grouped under a total of 7 groups.

Groups of drugs are administered at different times to reduce side effects and interactions with each other. Chemotherapy drugs are administered in different ways for the patient to increase the effectiveness of the fight against cancer. Chemotherapy drugs are commonly administered as follows:

Intravenous Chemotherapy: Intravenous chemotherapy administered in a hospital setting is mostly given into the arm vein. In some cases, the drug can also be administered through a catheter into larger veins in the body. Intravenous administration can be done within minutes in some cases, while in others it may take days.

Intramuscular Chemotherapy: In this chemotherapy method, which is administered intramuscularly, the drug is injected directly into the abdomen, arm and leg muscles.

Oral Chemotherapy: In oral chemotherapy, also known as oral chemotherapy, the drug is in the form of pills or capsules.

Topical Chemotherapy: Topical chemotherapy is a term used to describe cancer drugs in cream form. It is applied by applying on cancer tissue.

Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy: It is a type of chemotherapy applied to the intra-body cavities. Around the abdominal organs, there is a kind of membrane called the peritoneum in medical terms. Some types of cancer, such as ovarian cancer, tend to spread to the peritoneum. Chemotherapy is applied to body cavities for the treatment of this type of cancer and to prevent its spread to other organs.

The frequency of chemotherapy varies according to the type of chemotherapy received. However, chemotherapy is applied in planned cures from the first session. Therefore, the person usually knows how often and how many cycles of chemotherapy he will receive. Each course of chemotherapy can take a few minutes or days. Between cures, time intervals are left for the patient to rest. However, the number of chemotherapy courses or the type of drugs that make up chemotherapy can be changed according to the patient's response to chemotherapy. Some medications can cause restlessness, sensitivity and fatigue in the person. During the period of chemotherapy, one should be patient and seek help from nurses, doctors and psychologists when necessary.

Chemotherapy Side Effects What are the Benefits?

Unlike healthy body cells, cancer cells multiply uncontrollably and rapidly. Regardless of the method of administration, all chemotherapy drugs reach the cancerous tissues through the circulatory system and act on the DNA and RNA of cancer cells, killing them or preventing them from multiplying. However, healthy body cells can also be damaged during this time. Depending on the damage of healthy body cells from chemotherapy, a number of side effects may occur in the person:

• Loss of appetite,
• Nausea,
  
• Vomiting,
  
• Weakness,
  
• Dry mouth,
  
• Wound formation in the mouth,
  
• Breathing stenosis,
  
• Sore throat,
  
• Diarrhea,
  
• Constipation,
  
• Anemia ,
  
• Hair loss,
  
• Structural changes in skin and nails,
  
• bruising in different parts of the body,
  
• Fever,
  
• Infection,
  
• Loss of libido,
  
• Sexual dysfunction,
  
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• Weight loss.

How should nutrition be during chemotherapy?

It is recommended that patients receiving chemotherapy have a healthy and balanced diet. It is necessary for maintaining weight despite lack of appetite, preventing the destruction of body tissues and regenerating them. Thanks to a healthy and adequate diet, the healing of body tissues damaged by chemotherapy is accelerated. It should be fed with seasonal fruits and vegetables, if there is no problem with digestion, milk and as much yoghurt as possible should be consumed.

It is recommended to consume legumes at least 3 times a week. In addition, fish consumption must be added to the weekly diet list.

Packaged and frozen foods as well as processed meat, meat products and UHT milk should be avoided. Too many sweets should not be consumed. Protein-rich meat types should be consumed without being smoked or fried. When a healthy and balanced diet program is applied, it is not necessary to take food supplements, drugs or vitamins. It is recommended to seek help from a dietitian in order to establish a nutrition program suitable for cancer patients.

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