| Research papers in Traditional Chinese Medicine 1. New Advances
in Tumor Treatment
2. Research on Regeneration and Restoration of Spinal Cord Injury
1. A REVIEW OF NEW ADVANCES IN TUMOR TREATMENT THROUGH TRADITIONAL
CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM) AND WESTERN MEDICINE
Zhao Cheng, Ph.D., CMD.
Canadian TCM Anti-cancer Centre,
302 Spadina Ave., Suit 206,
Toronto, Ontario M5T 2E7
The major methods used in modern Western medicine to treat cancers
are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. In recent years biological
therapy, thermal therapy, angiogenesis inhibitor treatment and
other new ways have also been developed to treat cancer.
Surgery in the Treatment of Cancer
Surgery is still an effective method in cancer treatment today.
It is very important in the treatment of early stage cancer.
Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Cancer
Radiotherapy is the treatment of cancer and other diseases with
ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation deposits energy that injures
or destroys cells in the area being treated (the "target
tissue") by damaging their genetic material, making it impossible
for these cells to continue to grow. Although radiation damages
both cancer cells and normal cells, the latter are able to repair
themselves and function properly.
Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Cancer
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with drugs that can destroy
cancer cells. These drugs often are called "anticancer"
drugs. Normal cells grow and die in a controlled way. When cancer
occurs, cells in the body that are not normal keep dividing and
forming more cells without control. Anticancer drugs destroy cancer
cells by stopping them from growing or multiplying. Healthy cells
can also be harmed, especially those that divide quickly. Fortunately
these cells usually repair themselves after chemotherapy. Harm
to healthy cells can cause side effects.
Because some drugs work better together than alone, often two
or more drugs are given at the same time. This is called combination
chemotherapy. Chemotherapy may be the only treatment a patient
receives. More often, however, chemotherapy is used in addition
to surgery, radiation therapy, and/or biological therapy.
Chemotherapy can be used for different goals, e.g. to cure the
cancer, to control the cancer's growth, and to relieve symptoms
that the cancer may cause. Cancer is considered cured when the
patient remains free of evidence of cancer cells for an extended
period of time. Control of the cancer is done by keeping the cancer
from spreading, and slowing the cancer's growth can be achieved
by killing cancer cells that may have spread to other parts of
the body from the original tumor. Finally, reduction of tumor
load can alleviate symptoms such as pain which can significantly
improve the patient's quality of life.
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