The better option...chemo or radiation?

Question

My Dad died from cancer that began in the liver and traveled thru his body. He started radiation and then switched to chemo. I was told because radiation was not working. What I wonder is, why would they think chemo would work? Now my sister has been diagnosed w/ breast cancer and wonders what her options are. Going by our Dad's experience, makes her choices harder to make. Can anyone who has gone thru either of these treatments, shed some light for us. The pros and cons of the treatment path you took.

Answer 1

Hi there, yes I'm a cancer survivor. There are pro's and con's to each treatment and each treatment has it's own destiny. Radiation is more tissue related, like skin deep, for organs, radiation can enhance but it will not kill the cancer, it's not deep enough or strong enough. Radiation damages skin and lymph nodes and many times can cause fluid build up called lymphedema. The skin actually burns many times during a treatment. There are side effects too due to the skin heating up such as burning, peeling, loss of sensation, etc. Chemo is stronger, it goes through the full body and kills the cells, right after surgery it is very beneficial, before and after, you shrink the tumor, do surgery, then chemo again to kill loose cells that escape. Liver cancer is harder to treat because the liver is spongy, say for example surgery on the liver, you can't stitch it because it's like trying sew cottage cheese together, they have to clamp it together. Based on that the radiation probably was more of an enhancement in this case whereas the chemo penetrated and circulated full body.

Now for a breast, and I have experience in breast cancer, if I were your sister, I would opt for chemo AND radiation first to shrink the cancer, surgery then more chemo and radiation after to make sure the cancer dies. There are newer treatments too with crypto therapy not sure how that is spelled, where they can freeze tumors and they die, she needs to consult with a good oncologist on treatment options whether she wants a lumpectomy, masectomy etc.

Just to be aware, breast cancer can spread to lymph nodes, especially in the chest and underarm, the underarm node is called the axilla and it's a main node in the body. Removal of this node or radiation done to that node or higher near the collarbone (called the clavicle) can damage the node. Damage or removal of that node can cause lymphedema, which is fluid build up in the body due to a malfunction in the lymphatic system. She needs to be aware of that when she talks to the surgeon and oncologist. They may not tell her about it as many doctors are not informed.

Answer 2

This is not a better option idea for you. Both chemo and radiation could work on your sister's condition but it depends on what stage it was found. The earlier her breast cancer is detected, the greater is her chance of survival and the greater the possibility of remission. If her cancer is a non-invasive type, her oncologist could request first for mastectomy then switch to radiation to kill the surrounding areas with remaining cancer cells. For the invasive type, chemotherapy is usually the best option to go after the invading cancer cells. Of course, the cons of both treatments are hair loss, vomitting, nausea and body weakness because both treatments affect the healthy cells.

Answer 3

I'm sorry to hear about your dad and your sister; it can be scary and is often just as difficult for family members as it can be for the people going through it.

In general, breast cancer is caught earlier than what is sounds like your dad had. I'm not sure if your sister has already had surgery, but the primary curative treatment for breast cancer is surgery. Radiation treatments may be helpful for treated tumor cells left behind in the breast or nearby lymph nodes, and the decision to use it depends upon the type of surgery and the findings at surgery. Radiation treatment can be an effective treatment to reduce the risk of the tumor coming back in the breast/lymph nodes, but it doesn't help with anything anywhere else in the body.

That's where chemotherapy or hormone therapy are helpful; after surgery these drugs circulate in the bloodstream to help reduce the risk of overall recurrence. However, after surgery all of these treatments are like an insurance policy; they reduce the risk of tumor recurrence but often in very different, complementary ways.

I treat many women with breast cancer, and I think ultimately the best treatment decisions are reached when doctors really help each person reach informed decisions that make sense not only for medical outcomes but also that fits his or her priorities and needs. Family members can often help as well to help their loved ones to clearly define how they want to approach the pros and cons of treatment.

Answer 4

the three substantial sorts of what we predict of of as nuclear radiation are gamma, beta and alpha. Gamma represents the difficult radiation. that's desperate a killer, fantastically once you're on the factor of it. It radiates basically like mild and reaches far. that's the area of a nuclear explosion that creates whadow pictures of issues that have been vaporized. do no longer choose various of that for the period of our lives. Beta has a weaker impression. you will possibly prefer to be relatively on the factor of the radiating source for it to be unfavourable. nevertheless no longer sturdy regardless of the undeniable fact that because it could screw up DNA. Alpha, the weakest, might seem to be the 'safest'... besides the shown fact that alpha debris, or 'heat' debris are the main substantial area of fallout. they have not got plenty attain, yet they do get ingested, and as quickly as embedded in,ung or digestive tissues, might reason cancer. So, no, nuclear radiation isn't sturdy for you. under particularly controlled circumstances, that's used to kill cancerous tissue... yet super precaution must be taken that it in effortless terms hits the cancerous tissue. in the previous this grow to be subtle by utilising the scientific occupation, many people have been cured initially of their orginal cancers, in effortless terms to later die of exposure to the 'treatment'... image voltaic is radiation you realize. a number of that's sturdy for you. too plenty, no longer plenty a sturdy ingredient.

Answer 5

My friend who has had cancer has had both. And now because she had radiation those years ago she's getting sick and stuff. So radiation can cause long term effects.