Week 5, Day 4, respond to the problem statement assigned to you for this week.
At a prominent state hospital, a 45-year-old woman is receiving a ‘combined modality' treatment for the initial stage of breast cancer. State the two aspects included in this treatment. State the methods by which a radiation oncologist can administer these therapies. Additionally, state four major differences between the two modes of treatment
How would you like for us to help you with this assignment?
I need help in learning to find the correct information. I tend to spend hours and I still get frustrated. Maybe some helpful websites.
Thank you
The first three or four here should be helpful. The usefulness goes down from there I think.
http://www.google.com/search?q=combined+modality&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
To respond to this problem statement, we need to provide information regarding the two aspects included in the combined modality treatment, the methods of administering the therapies by a radiation oncologist, and four major differences between the two modes of treatment.
1. Two aspects included in combined modality treatment:
Combined modality treatment refers to the use of multiple treatment modalities simultaneously or sequentially to enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatment. In this case, for the initial stage of breast cancer, the two aspects included in the combined modality treatment could be surgery and radiation therapy.
2. Methods by which a radiation oncologist can administer these therapies:
a. Surgery: The surgical aspect of the combined modality treatment is typically performed by a surgeon specialized in breast cancer surgery. The surgeon would remove the cancerous tumor, along with a margin of healthy tissue, in order to prevent the spread of cancer cells.
b. Radiation Therapy: The radiation aspect of the combined modality treatment is administered by a radiation oncologist. Two common methods of administering radiation therapy are:
- External beam radiation therapy: In this method, a machine delivers high-energy radiation beams from outside the body to target and destroy the cancer cells. It is a non-invasive procedure that is typically performed on an outpatient basis.
- Brachytherapy: This method involves placing radioactive implants, either temporarily or permanently, near or within the site of the tumor. The implants deliver targeted radiation directly to the tumor, minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.
3. Four major differences between surgery and radiation therapy in terms of treatment modes:
While surgery and radiation therapy are both employed in combined modality treatment, they differ in several ways:
a. Invasiveness: Surgery is an invasive procedure that involves making incisions and physically removing the tumor, while radiation therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells.
b. Local vs. systemic treatment: Surgery is a localized treatment that focuses on removing the tumor and nearby lymph nodes, whereas radiation therapy can be used to target cancer cells not only at the primary site but also at nearby lymph nodes or even distant metastasis.
c. Timing: Surgery is typically performed early in the treatment plan, whereas radiation therapy may be administered before or after surgery, depending on the specific case and treatment goals.
d. Side effects: Surgical treatment may result in pain, scarring, potential complications, and recovery time, whereas radiation therapy may cause skin reactions, fatigue, and long-term effects depending on the area being treated.
By providing this information based on the problem statement, you can formulate a comprehensive response to complete your assigned task effectively.