Western cancer treatments are used to shrink, slow the growth or destroy cancer cells within a body. The side effects commonly associated with cancer therapies are a result of these therapies also damaging healthy cells when administered. Unfortunately, this is a necessary means to the cancer cells and in most cases, unavoidable. The goal of treatment is to kill the caner cells while minimizing damage to normal cells. The most common cancer treatments:
- Chemotherapy: A type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy works by slowing or stopping the growth of the cells.
- Radiation Therapy: High-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink cancerous tumors.
- Surgery: Cryosurgery is a technique for freezing and killing abnormal cells. This treatment can be used inside the body (internal tumors, bone tumors) or on the skin’s surface with liquid nitrogen.
Symptoms associated with cancer treatments are as follows:
- Hair Loss
- Nausea & Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Pain
- Anemia
- Infection
- Kidney & Bladder Infections
- Mouth, Gum and Throat Problems
- Diarrhea & Constipation
- Nerve and Muscle Effects
- Sexuality Effects
- Nail & Skin Effects
- Blood Clotting
