» Families Facing Cancer – Helping carers to cope with cancer http://familiesfacingcancer.org Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:48:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 Adjuvant Chemotherapy http://familiesfacingcancer.org/adjuvant-chemotherapy/ http://familiesfacingcancer.org/adjuvant-chemotherapy/#comments Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:49:51 +0000 Anne Orchard http://familiesfacingcancer.org/?p=625 The term adjuvant chemotherapy refers to chemotherapy given when all visible signs of the cancer have been removed through surgery. For instance, in breast cancer surgery may completely remove a tumour from the breast, but chemotherapy be given afterwards to reduce the likelihood of the cancer recurring or spreading to other areas of the body.

Recommended Reading

Coping With Chemotherapy by Terry Priestman
Information on chemotherapy including the purpose of adjuvant chemotherapy.

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Share/Bookmark]]> http://familiesfacingcancer.org/adjuvant-chemotherapy/feed/ 0 Adjuvant Radiotherapy http://familiesfacingcancer.org/adjuvant-radiotherapy/ http://familiesfacingcancer.org/adjuvant-radiotherapy/#comments Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:10:51 +0000 Anne Orchard http://familiesfacingcancer.org/?p=621 The term adjuvant radiotherapy refers to radiotherapy given when all visible signs of the cancer have been removed through surgery. For instance, in breast cancer surgery may completely remove a tumour from the breast, but radiotherapy be given afterwards to reduce the likelihood of the cancer recurring. Adjuvant radiotherapy is common where a breast tumour has been removed using a lumpectomy rather than a mastectomy, and this may be given after or even during the surgery.

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Share/Bookmark]]> http://familiesfacingcancer.org/adjuvant-radiotherapy/feed/ 0 Alopecia http://familiesfacingcancer.org/alopecia/ http://familiesfacingcancer.org/alopecia/#comments Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:51:42 +0000 Anne Orchard http://familiesfacingcancer.org/?p=258 Alopecia is the medical term for loss of hair. In relation to cancer, we most commonly think of alopecia as hair loss from the head as a side-effect of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy does not always result in alopecia or hair loss, but when it does all hair on the body can be affected, including eyelashes, eyebrows and hair in the genital region. Sometimes a cold cap is used during chemotherapy sessions in order to lessen the likelihood of hair loss.
Radiotherapy can also result in alopecia, but only in the area affected directly by the radiation.
Alopecia can have a profound effect on the person’s self-image and may contribute to depression, or relationship difficulties. Some people choose to cut their hair very short in case they lose it as this may lessen the impact.

Share/Bookmark]]> http://familiesfacingcancer.org/alopecia/feed/ 0 Avastin http://familiesfacingcancer.org/avastin/ http://familiesfacingcancer.org/avastin/#comments Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:05:15 +0000 Anne Orchard http://familiesfacingcancer.org/?p=67 Avastin is the trade name of a drug called Bevacizumab. It aims to slow cancer growth by reducing the formation of blood vessels which feed a tumour.

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