HEAD AND NECK CANCERS – A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH
The "Breakthrough therapies - the key to the development of medicine" campaign aims to indicate the possibilities of oncological therapies and the progress of this treatment. In a special supplement distributed in Saturday's (September 28) Gazeta Wyborcza, there were statements by many experts from the medical industry. The supplement devotes a lot of attention to radiation therapy.
Currently, the fight against cancer requires the creation of a separate strategy for each patient, a treatment plan that takes into account the type of cancer, the patient's comorbidities and his or her general well-being. Combination therapies prove to be particularly effective, which is why the Amethyst Radiotherapy Center uses teleradiotherapy combined with brachytherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy and many other combined therapies. In the case of head and neck cancers, brachytherapy is often used.
Brachytherapy makes it possible to administer a large dose of radiation with great precision directly to the cancerous lesion, which increases the chance of cure with a relatively low risk of complications. This is particularly important in the case of head and neck cancer, where many vital organs are located, especially the salivary glands and the pharyngeal constrictor muscle, which after receiving a high dose of radiation necessary to cure the cancer may lose their functionality, which is so crucial to life. issue like nutrition - says Marta Urbańska-Gąsiorowska, radiotherapist from Amethyst Radiation Therapy Center.
An important element in the treatment of head and neck cancer is cooperation with a dietitian.
– From the very beginning, when a patient comes to our radiotherapy clinic, he is under the care of a dietitian who gives him instructions on how to eat and take care of himself. Before the therapy begins, the patient usually has some time to properly nourish and hydrate the body. This is very important, because such "supplies" may turn out to be crucial during the difficulties of therapy. We monitor the patient's weight throughout the entire treatment process. If the weight drops, we know that it needs to be counteracted quickly. By observing our patients, we see how important good eating habits are. If a patient takes care of himself, it is easier for him to undergo therapy and has a greater chance of recovery - convinces Marta Urbańska-Gąsiorowska.
