Archive for the ‘Chemotheraphy’ Category

Bevacizumab Ovarian Cancer Treatment Information

Friday, August 19th, 2011

A lot of medications have been developed to help treat cancer. One of these medications is Bevacizumab ovarian cancer treatment. It’s important to know the details of these medications to set expectations about this treatment option.

Bevacizumab is known with its trade name called Avastin. It’s been used for years in treating a number of different cancer types. Studies indicate that it show positive results in treating ovarian cancer.

In terms of studies, a study posted in cancer.gov indicated that using Bevacizumab as part of ovarian cancer treatment is something that can optimize treatment to make it more effective for patients. If you want to know more about this study and abstract, visit this link.

Medications used for cancer may show positive results for every patient but it’s also essential to identify its side effects. One of its common side effects is hypertension. Patients can ask their physicians about how this can be controlled and other management procedures.

Effects on the intestine specifically on the large intestines have been noted in using this medication. Perforations on the bowels are the common effects on this organ in incorporating this treatment product. There are still other side effects to take note and these are discussed once a patient is described with this medication.

Using Bevacizumab as an ovarian cancer treatment is possible but it’s vital to know various details about it like studies and adverse effects. To know more about this medication, make sure to click on this link.

Knowing the Side Effects of Topotecan Ovarian Cancer Treatment

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

Cancer has a number of different medication types. While some medications may be focused on specific cancer type, some of them can be used on different types. One of them is Topotecan ovarian cancer medication.

Topotecan is not only a medication that will help treat ovarian cancer, it’s also notable in treating cancers like cervical and lung cancer. It’s a medication used for chemotherapy so side effects must be expected by users who will be prescribed with this product.

Using this medication may result to lowered levels of white blood cells in the blood. Hence, this will make the body more prone to infection. White blood cells help combat the infections that enter the body so lowered levels may cause people to get infections faster than the usual.

In addition, it can also affect the platelet count in the blood. Platelets are the one responsible for blood clotting in cases of wound. Lower level of platelet will result to bleeding.

Finally, hair loss and nausea are also among the symptoms experienced in using Topotecan for ovarian cancer. Hair loss may not only occur in the head but also in the body. Nausea may result to weakening the body while undergoing medication.

Topotecan for ovarian cancer is already a known medication for this problem. however, it’s important to take note of these side effects first and tell the physician right away once side effects become unbearable for patients. In addition, it’s also essential to indicate true medical history to make sure that this medication is appropriate.

Why Chemo for Ovarian Cancer is Still Needed after Surgery

Sunday, August 14th, 2011

Chemotherapy is the first thing that will come to people’s mind after hearing the term cancer. This is also the same, of course, in the case of ovarian cancer. But aside from chemo for ovarian cancer, physicians also advice patients to undergo surgery especially if cancer cells have already affected the ovaries. 

With the surgery in mind, numerous patients would think why chemo for ovarian cancer is still important after surgical procedure. This is still vital because of the possibility of cancer cell residues on nearby organs. Although ovaries may have been removed, it’s still possible that other organs within the area have already been affected by cancer cells.

Surgery can serve as the main cancer-cleaning procedure on this stage but chemo for ovarian cancer will help to remove cancer cells totally on other parts. Chemotherapy may be done in different ways but they still contain specific types of strong medications to kill off cancer cells that are not removed with surgery. This is the main reason why many physicians would also recommend undergoing chemo after surgery.

Without a doubt, treating cancer is done by using various medications and procedures. This answers the question why chemo for ovarian cancer is still needed even after surgery. Joining their capabilities will help patients and take care of this condition as soon as possible to save lives. It’s vital to take note of this treatment combo if you’re a patient to ensure you’ll get utmost benefit coming from these procedures.

Know 3 Facts About Chemotherapy For Ovarian Cancer

Monday, August 1st, 2011

Cancer is just like any other diseases. People will take in medication once diagnosed with a disease. But aside from this, following a diet and taking supplements will also play a vital role in order to keep their condition well controlled and prevent possible recurrence of the disease. Chemotherapy for ovarian cancer is considered as follow-up treatment after the surgery is done. Here are some of the facts about chemotherapy.

Medications
Chemotherapy for ovarian cancer usually includes two types of medications. The first type is a platinum-based medication called carboplatin and is administered together with taxane. Taxol is a popular example of taxane while Paraplatin is an example of carboplatin.

Administration procedure

Just like in medications, chemotherapy for ovarian cancer can be administer in two ways called IV and IP. IV stands for intravenous and IP stands for intraperitoneal procedures. Chemotherapy through IV will allow medication to pass through the veins and eventually treating the cancer. As for the IP procedure, medication is administered directly to the abdomen. Thus, making the medication get in contact with the cancer.

IP chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. Original image from onkochirurgie.de

Comparison

So which is better between the two? Resources cited that IP procedure has more benefit since the medication will directly be administered on the cancer cells. However, it doesn’t mean that IV is not effective. The combination of these two procedures revealed better treatment results for patients.

These are just some of the facts you have learned about chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. If you want to know more, you can read this reference for additional info about this treatment option.

Ovarian Cancer Treatment: Chemotherapy

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

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Cancer chemotherapy is actually a therapy which utilizes drugs to destroy cancer cells. This treatment is largely given soon after surgery. The drugs destroy these cancer cells by stopping them from quickly growing or dividing. Nevertheless a number of the normal cells are also destroyed in this method. In addition to these, ovarian cancers are mainly utilized by utilizing a mixture of different treatments for example surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

In the majority of the cases, you will discover probabilities of reoccurrence of this cancer in the physique. Chemotherapy therapy is opted for only those individuals who’re at the low grade or at an early stage from the illness following surgery. The distinct sorts of ovarian cancer like stromal cell, epithelial and germ cell are treated by using chemotherapy.

This treatment is performed by opting for the distinct strategies of administering chemotherapy for instance intraperitoneal chemotherapy and intravenous chemotherapy. These are given in combination of diverse drugs which assist in increasing the survival rates. These remedies are given in hospital, clinic or home. Some girls choose to stay and take the treatment in hospital.

This remedy is provided in cycles. The therapy is generally followed by a rest period. The length of the rest period and cycles are determined by the type of drugs utilized within the therapy.

These cancers are sensitive towards the chemotherapy treatment and in most of the instances will respond properly within the beginning of the therapy. Within the starting from the chemotherapy treatment some standardized drugs are utilized in a mixture.

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The side effects with the chemotherapy therapy depend on factors for instance the patient, its dose and also the drug administered. However, you will discover some frequent side effects of employing chemotherapy treatment that are described below:

* Short-term hair loss
* Anemia
* Depression
* Reduce the variety of platelets which could result in bleeding
* Weight reduction
* Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea

You’ll find some long-term side effects also including harm to the kidney or liver, bone marrow damage, hearing loss, infertility, allergic reactions, and so on. that are life threatening and risk for getting other cancers are elevated.

Even so, you may consult a doctor and take some medicines which will assist to destroy the unwanted side effects of chemotherapy. The doctor will also clear all your queries associated towards the ovarian cancer. Majority of the side effects final only till the therapy lasts.

Therefore info concerning the chemotherapy therapy for ovarian cancer is described. It also informs concerning the side effects of this remedy also.

Chemotherapy Treatment for Ovarian Cancer

Wednesday, November 24th, 2010

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Chemotherapy can cure, handle and lessen the indicators of the threatening disease may be causing. It’s one of the 3 options involving probable treatment methods after a woman has been diagnosed to have ovarian cancer. The 2 other choices are surgery and radiation. The process is by making use of anti-cancer cytotoxic drugs to destroy the cancer cells. This type of medical procedure is typically perfomed after the surgery or if the tumor has reoccurred again. There are 4 approaches to execute the therapy based upon the cancer patient’s body resistance.

Being applied within the vein is called Intravenous injection technique and is the being considered as the universal method in general. A needle will go through the skin directly into the veins. Drugs are provided for 3 weeks period to recuperate the normal cells after the procedure. It could be injected through a small tube, central lines (in the center of chest), PICC lines (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter- inserted into the arm and ends up in the chest vein) and portacath (small chamber that is placed beneath the skin at the end of central line)

Intraperitoneal method is done by injecting into the abdominal cavity. Medicine with high dosage is put into the abdomen by means of a catheter with the chance to obliterate cancer cells that have already spread out.

Not all women with ovarian cancer can be given oral drugs that are being taken by mouth. It can be given in the form of tablet or pill as directed by the doctors. Etoposide, hexamethyl lamine, and melphalan are the examples of these medicines

The treatment where in being absorbed into the blood much slower than intravenous injection so the effect could last longer is called the Intramuscular where being infused into the muscle on either buttocks or legs

Chemotherapy is roughly done in 6 cycles striving to have good response. After completing the first two courses, evaluation of the degree of reaction in the body is done. Options for treatment may vary and could be established by the woman’s response and recovery from the treatment and consistent observation of blood to check the recovery rate of blood cells (CA125). If everything goes well with the lab tests, the next 3rd procedure will follow.

Severe abdominal pain, infection, bloating and fatigue after completing the 6 cycles are the major effects. It is normally done in an outpatient basis. It may also take at home based on the patient’s desire. Majority of the patients prefer to stay in the hospital at the start of the treatment to ensure that there are no detrimental effects in the body. The medication may be given on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Complete rest is advised before the next treatment. There is no definite period or how long the treatment will take as long as the body is still responding well to the treatment.

The medical term referring to the decreasing in the emergence of cancer cells but does not mean complete disappearance while there is also possibility for complete reduction if there is no detected tumor in any of the laboratory tests that would be conducted after the chemotherapy is called Partial Remission .

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3 Important Treatments for Ovarian Cancer

Friday, November 12th, 2010

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There are numerous questions which are bothering the minds as to how the ovarian cancer will be treated. One is what are the treatments for the ovarian cancer which had been recently your diagnosis. Another one is how will the treatment affect one’s overall health and what are the chances that you will be totally treated.

The physician will initially examine the stage of the cancer, the type of ovarian cancer a person may have and most especially the body’s overall health prior to giving recommendation for any treatment program for a patient. The cancer can be treated on 3 different procedures namely the surgery, chemotherapy and or radiotherapy. These methods can be a combination of both surgery and chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.

Most women who undergo ovarian cancer go through surgery. Surgery is so essential because this is used for the medical expert to know the stage the ovarian cancer. After evaluating the cancer patient with laparoscopy or laparotomy, the physician will then make a decision if he will remove the affected organ or perform debulking which is the removal of cancer tissues as possible. Surgery can be done such as the removal of only 1 ovary (oophorectomy), removal of the uterus (total hysterectomy), removal of the fallopian tubes and both ovaries (bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy) and the removal of the tissues around the bowels (omentectomy). Lymphadenectomy which is the removal the affected lymph nodes and also the elimination of the affected intestines if ever can be perfomed. All the cancer cells and tissues which were taken out by surgery will all be brought to the histopathological laboratory for deeper examination.

Chemotherapy is another well-known treatment. It is performed by using high dosage anti-cancer medicine for the cancer cells to be eliminated. Most of the time, chemotherapy is executed after surgery because there are still cancer that were not taken out and to be able for the cancer cells to be demolished, anti-cancer drugs are given. There are different ways to do chemotherapy like the intravenous injection, intraperitoneal injection, oral administration or intramuscular injection. The most frequently used method is the intravenous injection of high dosage ant cancer medicines. For oral medication, the first line treatment used is the combination of platinum compounds with taxane compounds. Some of the well known generics are cisplatin, carboplatin and paclitaxel. If the combination of paclitaxel and cisplatin fails, 2nd line medicine will be used such as thexamethylamine (Hexalen®, altretamine) and topotecan hydrochloride (Hycamtin™). Thses durgs were all approved by the USFDA. Normally, chemotherapy last for at least 6 cycles however cancer patients don’tt finish the cycles due to side effects that affect their body making them feel weak.

Another treatment which is not often done for the treatment of ovarian cancer is Radiotherapy. The action of the therapy is to eliminate cancer cells which are the reason for the spread to various organs and tissues by using high energy radiation like gamma rays. It’s not normally used as a treatment because most of the cases of the women having cancer are already in the later stages. If it is only in the earlier stages such as the cancer cells are only in one or both ovaries and the pelvic organs were not yet affected, there is a high chance that radiotherapy can treat the cancer. It is also done in 2 ways; it can be through a radiotherapy devise executed outside of the body or it can be performed by injection of a short lived radioactive chemical into the peritoneal cavity.

Whatever methods that the medical professional has advised a patient to use, administer it because doctors have studied and evaluated the condition for them to properly cure the disease by means of the treatment methods for ovarian cancer.

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The National Ovarian Cancer Network – Our Focus

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Ribbon

Welcome to ovca.org. While you visit our website we hope you get exactly what you are looking for. In the event that you feel something is missing, PLEASE feel free to contact us and let us know what is on your mind. The purpose of this website, from our point of view, is to basically get as much information on the Ovaries and Ovarian Cancer that we can possibly put together… and present it to the world. While reading, watching, or listening to any of the content that you view on this website… please keep in mind that the original source is not from us, but instead it likely came from some other resource we have found online. With that said, we hope that your visit to ovca.org is both proactive and educational.

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