Palliation Surgery is employed in a number of ways for supportive care: insertion of central venous catheters, control of pleural and pericardial effusions and ascites, caval interruption for recurrent pulmonary emboli, stabilization of cancerweakened weight-bearing bones, and control of hemorrhage, among others. Surgical bypass of gastrointestinal, urinary tract, or biliary tree obstruction can alleviate symptoms and prolong survival. Surgical procedures may provide relief of otherwise intractable pain or reverse neurologic dysfunction (cord decompression). Splenectomy may relieve symptoms and reverse hypersplenism. Intrathecal or intrahepatic therapy relies on surgical placement of appropriate infusion portals. Surgery may correct other treatment-related toxicities such as. | Chapter 081. Principles of Cancer Treatment Part 4 Palliation Surgery is employed in a number of ways for supportive care insertion of central venous catheters control of pleural and pericardial effusions and ascites caval interruption for recurrent pulmonary emboli stabilization of cancer-weakened weight-bearing bones and control of hemorrhage among others. Surgical bypass of gastrointestinal urinary tract or biliary tree obstruction can alleviate symptoms and prolong survival. Surgical procedures may provide relief of otherwise intractable pain or reverse neurologic dysfunction cord decompression . Splenectomy may relieve symptoms and reverse hypersplenism. Intrathecal or intrahepatic therapy relies on surgical placement of appropriate infusion portals. Surgery may correct other treatment-related toxicities such as adhesions or strictures. Rehabilitation Surgical procedures are also valuable in restoring a cancer patient to full health. Orthopedic procedures may be necessary to assure proper ambulation. Breast reconstruction can make an enormous impact on the patient s perception of successful therapy. Plastic and reconstructive surgery can correct the effects of disfiguring primary treatment. Principles of Radiation Therapy Physical Properties and Biologic Effects Exposure to ionizing radiation is constant. Radiation comes from the sun and other cosmic sources the ground the air we breathe the food we ingest and from within our bodies. Radiation therapy uses radiation to treat cancer. Radiation is a physical form of treatment that damages any tissue in its path its selectivity for cancer cells may be due to defects in a cancer cell s ability to repair sublethal DNA and other damage. Radiation causes breaks in DNA and generates free radicals from cell water that may damage cell membranes proteins and organelles. Radiation damage is dependent on oxygen hypoxic cells are more resistant. Augmentation of oxygen is the basis for radiation sensitization. Sulfhydryl .
