Along with scientific development in all aspects of life, diseases treatments have naturally affected by technology and novel procedures. The most common types of cancer treatment, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, etc. were introduced one by one to extol life quality. Although these treatment types are very beneficial and effective in some cases, but drawbacks are the other side of the coin. Surgery has been used to treat cancer for many, many years. Surgery also plays a key role in diagnosing cancer and finding out how far it may have spread [ ]. Radiation therapy uses high-energy particles or waves to destroy or damage cancer cells. It is one of the most common treatments for cancer, either by itself or along with other forms …show more content…
Lasers are also being studied for treating or preventing side effects of common cancer treatments [ ]. For instance, some studies are looking at how low-level laser therapy (LLLT) might be used to prevent or treat severe mouth sores caused by chemotherapy, and how they may be used to treat the swelling (lymphedema) that can result from breast surgery. The CO2 and Nd: YAG lasers are used to shrink or destroy tumors. They can be used with thin, flexible tubes called endoscopes that let doctors see inside certain parts of the body, such as the bladder or stomach. The light from some lasers can be sent through an endoscope fitted with fiber optics. This lets doctors see and work in parts of the body that could not be reached otherwise except by major surgery. Using an endoscope also allows very precise aim of the laser beam. Lasers can be used with low-power microscopes, too. This gives the doctor a larger view of the area being treated. When used with an instrument that allows very fine movement (called a micromanipulator), laser systems can produce a cutting area as small as 200 microns in diameter – that’s less than the width of a very fine thread. Lasers are used to treat many kinds of cancer [ ]. In the intestines or large bowel, lasers can be used to remove polyps, small growths that might become cancer. The CO2 laser can be used to treat pre-cancerous tissue and very early cancers of the cervix, vagina and vulva. Lasers are also used to remove tumors blocking the swallowing tube (esophagus) and large intestine (colon). This does not cure the cancer, but it relieves some symptoms, such as trouble swallowing. The Nd: YAG laser has also been used to remove cancer that has spread to the lungs from other areas. This helps avoid surgery that would require removing large sections of lung. This type of laser cannot cure cancer, but it can improve
Over the years, surgery has made tremendous progress while changing human perspective; viewed as “no more science than butchery” a couple of centuries ago to now considered to be a solution for many health care problems threatening humans, like cancer, heart disease and kidney failure. Nevertheless, surgery has not been perfected to a level that provides successful results every time it is performed on patients. For example, surgery done to remove tumors in cancer patients result in only 45% of individuals to be cured. However, in order to be successful, the surgical procedure has to be carried out incredibly precisely and incomplete removal of tumors can decrease survival rate. Therefore, surgeons have to be able to recognize diseased tissue and distinguish it between healthy tissues. But even with the use of radioactive tracers and visuals, surgeons are not able to identify the exact site of the unhealthy tissue and its boundaries. Thus, almost 40% of the time cancerous cells are left behind because even the best qualified surgeons are not successful at the nanotechnological scale of tissue.
In the article “Pinpointing Cancer Fight,” Liz Szabo states the uses of nanotechnology and how researchers are attempting to use this advancement to fight cancer. She defines that nanotechnology is a type of technology that creates devices on an atomic level; this equipment can allow people such as researchers to use its ability to detect cancerous cells as well as treat them. Szabo remains a neutral tone as she states that while some are against the idea of using nanotechnology since there are many risks, others are optimistic that it may lead to transformational results. She presents a list of some products developed through nanotechnology and explains its usage in addition to mentioning the failure of those nanotech products. Szabo provides
For example, advanced cancer, or that which has metastasized to different parts of the body, often carries a terminal diagnosis, but it can be treated with chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. However, this route requires aggressive treatment at the expense of quality of life.
There are essentially three main types of cancer treatments; surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Surgery allows doctors to effectively remove tumors from a clear plane. Chemotherapy uses drugs to treat the tumor; but often the drugs affect other healthy cells in the process. Using radiation as a treatment can be either precise or vague. Many health stigmas can come from the vague forms of radiation or conventional radiation therapy. Conventional radiation treats both the unhealthy and healthy cells, therefore exposing healthy cells to harmful radiation (Radiation Oncology, 2011, p.6). When healthy cells are exposed to gamma radiation they are also exposed to ionizing radiation. The ionization can cause “breakage of chemical bonds or oxidization (addition of oxygen atoms)” in a cell; the main impact of this is on a cell’s DNA, if two strands of DNA break it can result in “mutations, chromosome aberrations, ...
Cancer is a disease in which cells multiply out of control and gradually build a mass of tissue called a tumor. There has been a large amount of research dedicated to the treatment and cure of cancer. Several types of treatments have been developed. The following are just some of the major examples of cancer therapy: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biologic therapy, biorhythms, unconventional treatments, and hyperthermia. Each type of treatment is discussed in detail below.
In the articles, “Lasers: The Light Fantastic!” and “The Steam Engine Powers a Revolution” both texts offer valid points of the positive and negative effects of technological advances. The first article gives insight into the pros of lasers, while the second article show us the cons that the steam engine had. Both articles expresses the idea, that not all technological advances are going to be great and not all or going to fail.
Laser therapy has been accepted widely by the general public and the medical professionals for its extensive benefits. This therapy precisely targets the affected area, minimizes the use of general anesthesia, encourages shorter hospital stay and improves the patient outcomes. These benefits have lead to its increased use and importance worldwide.
For cancer patients there are several treatment options. Surgery can remove cancerous tumors, chemotherapy uses drugs for treatment, and radiation therapy. The doctor in charge of the patient’s treatment may also choose to use radiation therapy. “Radiation
Radiation therapy is the use of “high-energy particles or waves, such as x-rays, gamma rays, electron beams, or protons, used to destroy or damage cancer cells” (Hage 1). The human body consists of a large number of cells which grow and multiply every day, however when cancer cells arise they multiply faster than a normal cell would. Cancer is considered hundreds of different diseases because there are so many types of them and is identified by its abnormal cell growth and ability to migrate throughout the body (Aggarwal). Radiation therapy helps with breaking down cancer cells and eventually kills them, stopping the cell division of these harmful cells. In the attempt to prevent these cancer cells to continue to multiply, healthy cells may also be destroyed but luckily radiation therapy has different methods to target the cells it wants to kill. Ideally, doctors only want to destroy the harmful cells but radiation has
If one is affected by cancer, there are treatments to help take away this illness affecting their body. This essay is about a specific type of treatment for cancer, radiation therapy. There are different types of forms of particles for radiation, for example, protons and waves like x-rays and visible light. These types of radiations are grouped on how much energy they contain because they can cause different effects. A low type of energy radiation can be radio waves and heat, also known as non-ionizing radiation.
My interest into becoming an optometrist had begun when I was in high school; it happened in an unconventional way. It was not through watching videos, or someone explaining to me what optometry was, but rather, seeing the power of it firsthand. There was a point in my life where I felt emotions that I was unable to comprehend at the time. Seeing a family member on an operating table was the most petrifying moment that I have gone through, especially when the person on the table was my father. My father had to get a chalazion removed from his right eyelid. The doctor told my family that my father would be susceptible to certain health risks because of his diabetes and the severity of his cyst. This procedure was the hardest thing I have had to deal with in my life because it made me feel helpless. Usually, when my dad needs help he always asks me, but this time I could not do anything. It is interesting to think that something so small had such a big affect on my life.
The time required for recovery and recuperation in laser treatment is less than that required for surgery.
Erbium or YAG laser which is of precise wave length penetrates into the skin. As the scattering of the YAG lasers are less, the normal skin is left unaffected.
As you can see lasers are a very useful and important tool which is why I have
Cutting: A laser is also great for cutting objects. It can get to those hard to reach places by the use of mirrors to bend the beam of light. It also is strong enough to cut through solid steel. A laser never damages the surface of the object because it never touches it. Lasers have been