Ovarian cancer part 5

Continuation of Part 4
Treatment
How will I know if the chemotherapy is working,
During the course of chemotheraphy, test will be undertaken to check the response of ovarian cancer. Mentioned below are the ways it can be checked:
If you had a tumour that was visible on a CT or ultrasound scan when you were diagnosed, you may have repeated scans to see whether it has shrunk.
You may have another small operation, known as ‘second look surgery’, which is carried out in the same way as a laparoscopy
If you had higher than normal levels of the cancer chemical CA125 in your blood when you were diagnosed, you may have a series of blood tests to see whether the levels are falling

In case all the tests are clear after the chemotherapy treatment, you will in remission period that means cancer is in control. If cancer still exist after chemotherapy an alternative treatment will be required as chemotherapy will not be effective for second time. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is an alternative for chemotherapy wherein cytotoxic medicine is inserted in your stomach. This is a form of radiography.
Side effects of chemotherapy
The function of chemotheraphy is to prevent cancerous cells that grow rapidly. There are few cells which grow naturally and also multiply and divide like white & red blood cells and hair follicles. Chemotheraphy in the due course also destroys these non cancerous cells causing several side effects like:
leukopenia – infection due to lack of WBC
anaemia – tiredness and breathlessness caused by a lack of RBC
sores around mouth
loss of appetite
rashes on the skin of your hands and feet
diarrhoea or constipation
hair loss,
nausea and vomiting,
The side effects will depend on the number of sessions taken, type of cytotoxic medicine and personal reaction. Anti sickness medication are recommended if you experience vomiting and nausea. Side effects will lasts as long as the treatment will last. Once the treatment stops the naturally growing cells will repair themselves.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is rarely used to treat this type of cancer. It is required if tiny traces of cancer are left in your system after chemotherapy. Radiotherapy uses X-rays of high energy and targets cancer cells that are growing rapidly.
External radiotherapy
External radiotherapy is recommended to clear the traces of cancer left by chemotherapy. The procedure is painless wherein you need to lie under a radiotherapy machine and the radiations are directed at the cancer site. A radiographer will position you as required which helps in targeting only cancer cells, avoiding any damage to healthy tissues. This procedure lasts for few minutes for five days in a week for four to three weeks.
Internal radiotherapy
Symptoms of advanced ovarian cancer can be controlled by internal radiotheraphy. In internal radiotheraphy has medicine with radiation called as radioisotopes, which are injected next to the cancer inside the body. This is liquid form or in pellets form and stay for few minutes in the body
Side effects of radiotherapy
Similar to chemotherapy during radiotherapy process naturally growing cells are also damaged like cells lining digestive system and skin cells. Mentioned below are the side effects caused due to radiotherapy:
irritation and darkening of your skin where the treatment takes place
stomach pain
need to pass urine frequently
bladder infections
diarrhoea or constipation
nausea
Need to pass urine frequently, constipation and diarrhoea can last longer than radiation treatment. In few cases no side effects occur for years or months after finishing the treatment, as radiotherapy causes permanent changes in bladder and bowels. In such scenario you need to consult a radiographer you shall prescribe medication to normalize your bowels.