Reconsidering Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy for Cancer

1. Reconsidering Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy for Cancer Krisstina Lin

2. Cancer isn’t new to me • A cousin to lung cancer in 1999 • Recently, a friend’s aunt to uterine cancer • A grandfather figure to multiple cancers in 2008

3. Diagnosed in October of 2012 • Cancer was in remission with chemo until 2 months ago • Passed away after failed attempts with radiation therapy

4. Why is This? Cameron Duncan 1986-2003 And many more ………. Zach Sobiech1995-2013

5. Chemo Only Works on Certain Cancers • Acute lymphocytic leukemia • Hodgkin Disease (a cancer of white blood cells) • Choriocarcinoma (cancer of the placenta) • Wilm’s Tumor (cancer of the kidneys) • Retinoblastoma (cancer of the retina)

6. Chemo Only Works on Certain Cancers • Acute lymphocytic leukemia • Hodgkin Disease (a cancer of white blood cells) • Choriocarcinoma (cancer of the placenta) • Wilm’s Tumor (cancer of the kidneys) • Retinoblastoma (cancer of the retina) • Effectiveness = 50% or more reduction in the size of a tumor within 28 days of treatment

7. Radiation Therapy • Theory behind radiation is to stop fast dividing cancer cells • But radiation levels are often much higher than what’s given in x-rays External Radiation Beam

8. X

9. Side Effects – Chemo • Anemia • Appetite changes • Bleeding • Constipation • Diarrhea • Fatigue • Hair loss • Infection • Infertility • Dry mouth (having little or no saliva) • Changes in taste and smell (such as when food tastes like metal or chalk, has no taste, or does not taste or smell like it used to) • Infections of your gums, teeth, or tongue • Increased sensitivity to hot or cold foods • Mouth sores • Trouble eating when your mouth gets very sore • Nausea and vomiting • Itching, dryness, redness, rashes, and peeling • Darker veins • Sensitivity to the sun (when you burn very quickly) • Nail problems • Tingling, burning, weakness, or numbness in your hands or feet • Feeling colder than normal • Weak, sore, tired, or achy muscles • Being clumsy and losing your balance • Trouble picking up objects or buttoning your clothes • Shaking or trembling • Hearing loss • Stomach pain, such as constipation or heartburn • Fatigue • Confusion and memory problems • Dizziness • Depression • Pain • Sexual changes • Urinary, kidney, and bladder changes • Flu-like symptoms • Fluid retention • Trouble wearing contact lenses • Blurry vision • Watery eyes

10. Side Effects – Chemo

11. Side Effects – Chemo Nutritional • Ulcers in mouth = unable to eat • Ulcers in stomach = unable to digest • Ulcers in intestine = unable to absorb nutrients Immunological • Stem cells cannot form new white blood cells • = lowered immune systems • = higher chances for infection

12. Side Effects – Radiation • Diarrhea • Fatigue • Hair Loss • Mouth sores • Dry mouth and throat • Sore throat • Loss of taste • Tooth decay • Changes in taste • Infections of your gums, teeth, or tongue • Jaw stiffness and bone changes • Thick, rope-like saliva • Nausea and Vomiting • Sexual and fertility changes such as impotence, sterility, and pain while having sex • Redness, dryness, and itchiness of skin • Pruritus • Moist reaction of skin cells • Swollen Skin • Painful, frequent and/or having problems urinating • Blood in urine

13. Side Effects – Radiation

14. Cancers Can Develop Resistance

15. Cancers Can Develop Resistance X X

16. Cancers Can Develop Resistance

17. REMEMBER!!! Chemotherapy and radiation are NOT cures They are TREATMENTS for the symptoms of cancer From a pharmocology point of view, it’s only temporary relief

18. Remember the definition of effectiveness? 50% or more reduction within 28 days, but what about all the days that follow?

19. Be Open Minded… • There is currently no known cure for cancer • Chemo and radiation can help reduce cancer symptoms, but keep in mind that it’s true effectiveness is not what it seems and in fact can kill you instead • There are other options available

20. …There is Hope Perhaps the best thing is to know your options and know the details…… ……and realize that cancer isn’t as scary as we make it out to be.