Clinical Trials
Question 1
During the clinical trials I had one patient who underwent radiation therapy. He is a cancer patient who has already underwent come form of treatment for his condition with no results. His health has started to fail even if the cancer is still in an early stage. A clear dose response relationship was observed for the radiation patient during the trial, which supports the use of higher radiation doses to achieve optimal results. During the clinical trial, the patient had been more than willing to participate.
This clinical trial definitely shows that radiation is not only feasible but is the treatment of choice for physicians wanting to give their patients the best treatment, keep precise control over the procedure and get it right first time. Radiation can be used safely and effectively in patients with the most difficult problems that we face today. The patient is the right choice to be the one to participate in the clinical trial since he has been undergoing several therapies for his condition without any improvements. The clinical trial had not only helped establish the effectiveness of the procedure of radiotherapy but also helped the patient gain improvements regarding his condition.
Question 2
Another patient has cancer of the bowel. This patient has given the option of chemotherapy and radiotherapy for treatment. The treatment of choice for either type of neoplasm is surgical removal. If surgery is not possible – as in cases where the cancer has spread widely or is inoperable – radiation and drugs (chemotherapy) are used. Chemotherapeutic drugs destroy malignant cells (2004).
For this patient, he did undergo surgery at first, only to find out that it doesn’t help at all since the cancer cells have already undergone metastasis. After the major bowel surgery, an outpatient appointment was given to the patient. He was informed that after his surgery for bowel cancer, he can benefit from additional treatment (called adjuvant therapy) in the form of chemotherapy or radiotherapy and he received an appointment to see the oncologists (who treat patients with cancer).
As previously stated, when chemotherapy or radiotherapy is used in addition to surgery it is known as ‘adjuvant chemotherapy’ or ‘adjuvant radiotherapy’. For example, following surgery you may be given a course of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. This aims to kill any cancer cells which may have spread away from the primary tumor site. This is the kind of therapy that the patient underwent. Sometimes, adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy is given before surgery to shrink a large tumor so that the operation to remove the tumor is easier for a surgeon to do, and is more likely to be successful.
Question 3
Cancer of the prostate gland is a common cause of death, accounting for about 2 to 3 percent of all male deaths ( 2000). Once cancer of the prostate gland does occur, the cancerous cells are usually stimulated to more rapid growth by testosterone and are inhibited by removal of both testes so that testosterone cannot be formed ( 2000). Also, prostatic cancer can be usually can be inhibited by administration of estrogens.
Radiotherapy is the treatment of disease with radiation, especially by selective irradiation with x-rays or other ionizing radiation and by ingestion of radioisotopes. It is also called as radiation therapy. Long-term control of prostate cancer can be achieved in a relatively high-risk patient population using interstitial brachytherapy in combination with external beam radiation therapy ( 2003).
External beam radiation has proven successful in the treatment of localized prostate cancer in phase 2 and is associated with a success rate comparable to surgery for patients with localized prostate cancer. The survival rate for patients with localized prostate cancer, stages A and B, treated with external beam radiation is similar to that for age-adjusted cohorts without prostate cancer (1996).
External radiation generally is delivered in a daily dose of 180 cGy to 200 cGy for a period of 6 to 7 weeks (total dose 6200 cGy to 7400 cGy). Potential complications include impotence, incontinence, cystitis, urethral strictures, prostatitis, diarrhea, edema of the lower extremities and bone marrow suppression. Patients also may become physically tired, and they should be instructed to get as much rest as possible during their course of treatment. It is not uncommon for erythema to develop and for the skin to become red or dry in the area of treatment. Affected skin should be exposed to the air as much as possible and patients should be instructed to avoid wearing tight clothing. Patients also must be instructed not to use creams or lotions on affected skin without their doctor’s approval (1996).
Question 4
The College of Radiographers has devised a new strategy to streamline the education, development and career paths of radiographers. Practitioners has strictly adhered to these codes and strategies by being highly skilled individuals, working autonomously and supervising assistant practitioners and other support staff. It is a requirement also for practitioners to complete a BSc degree in either therapeutic or diagnostic radiography. Subjects include anatomy, physiology and pathology, science and instrumentation, diagnostic or therapeutic radiography practice, social sciences and image interpretation, as well as aspects of patient care, including first aid and counseling. Advanced practitioners are also expected to work in a specialist or complex field of practice within radiography, or carry additional responsibilities across a range of practices. Thus, they will be team leaders and clinical experts managing their own caseloads. They may also be carrying out complex treatments or treatment planning and reporting on image appearances.
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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