What happens after finishing radiotherapy?
Follow-Up, Recovery, and Life After Treatment Completing radiation therapy is a significant milestone, but it may also bring new questions. What comes next? How will I feel? What follow-up will I need? When Will We Know If It Worked? Most treatments don’t show immediate results. Follow-up tests—such as mammograms, CT scans, or tumor markers, depending […]
What is radiation therapy?
Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses ionizing radiation to destroy cancer cells or stop them from growing. Unlike chemotherapy, which travels through the entire body, radiation therapy works locally, targeting the specific area where the tumor is located. The main goal is to damage the DNA of cancer cells so they can’t continue multiplying. Over time, […]
Is Chemotherapy Before Surgery Effective for Metaplastic Breast Cancer?
Metaplastic breast cancer is a rare but particularly aggressive form of breast tumor, accounting for less than 1% of all cases. Unlike more common breast cancers, this type typically responds poorly to conventional treatments, including traditional chemotherapy. A recent study by researchers at the renowned Duke Cancer Institute (USA) analyzed data from 4,601 women diagnosed with this cancer between […]
Radiation Therapy Side Effects: What to Expect and How to Manage Them
Every patient is unique, but there are common side effects during radiation therapy. Knowing about them in advance helps you prepare, prevent, and manage them better. What Are Acute Side Effects? Acute side effects occur during treatment or in the weeks afterward. They vary depending on the treated area:• Red or irritated skin (similar to […]
Inclusion Criteria for the “Watch and Wait” Protocol in Rectal Cancer and its Importance in Adherence to Follow-up
The “Watch and Wait” protocol has become an important strategy in the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer. This approach involves carefully monitoring patients who have responded favorably to neoadjuvant treatment (radiotherapy and chemotherapy), without the need for immediate surgery, with the goal of preserving anal sphincter function and avoiding colostomy. The inclusion criteria for applying the “Watch […]
Neoadjuvant Therapy Protocols for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer
The treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer requires a multidisciplinary approach, including surgery, chemotherapy, and Radiation Oncology. One of the most effective strategies in managing this type of cancer is the use of neoadjuvant therapy, which involves administering treatment before surgery to reduce tumor size and improve surgical outcomes. There are different neoadjuvant therapy protocols, which vary in their combination […]
Outcomes of the Nigro Protocol in the Treatment of Anal Cancer
The Nigro protocol marked a turning point in the treatment of anal cancer. Developed in 1974 by Dr. Norman Nigro, this therapeutic approach combined chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C) with external beam radiation therapy as the primary treatment—challenging the traditional standard of radical surgery. The original study included 30 patients diagnosed with anal canal cancer, […]
Pathophysiology of Obesity as a Risk Factor for Rectal Cancer
Obesity is a medical condition characterized by an excess of body fat and is recognized as a significant risk factor for various diseases, including cancer. In particular, obesity has been linked to an increased incidence of several types of cancer, including rectal cancer. This association results from a series of complex pathophysiological mechanisms involving hormonal, […]
Common Adverse Events in Neoadjuvant Treatment for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer and Therapies to Alleviate Symptoms
The neoadjuvant treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer typically involves a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, aimed at reducing the tumor before possible surgical intervention. While these treatments are crucial for improving survival rates and organ preservation, they can also lead to various adverse events that need to be properly managed to improve the patient’s quality of life. One of the most […]