Patients that suffer from cancer or leukaemia are treated with one or more chemotherapy protocols which are standard. Chemotherapy is used to treat palliate symptoms, and as a curative or is used to prolong the patient’s life. Chemotherapy treatments are usually used along with other cancer treatments that include surgery and radiation therapy. There are chemotherapy agents that are used in the treatment of scleroderma, Crohn’s disease, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Cancer cells divide rapidly, and chemotherapy agents are used to kill off these dividing cells. Cells that normally divide rapidly are also harmed by chemotherapy treatment such as cells in the hair follicles, digestive tract and in the bone marrow. The most common side effects caused by chemotherapy treatment are loss of hair, immune suppression, decreased production of white cells and mucositis.
The more recent chemotherapy drugs are not cytotoxic, but target abnormal proteins found in cancer cells that stimulate cancer cell growth. As opposed to chemotherapy these types of drugs are referred to as targeted therapy and are used in conjunction with chemo agents in anti-neoplastic treatment protocols. It was during the early 20th century that traditional drugs such as these mentioned were used to treat cancer, although they were not intended for this purpose. For example during WWI mustard gas was used as a chemical warfare agent and was found to be a potent haematopoiesis suppressor. Oncology nurse jobs Melbourne includes supervised patient care administering of medications, developing management protocols and monitoring the patient’s condition and nurses usually witness much suffering. An oncology nurse’s responsibility extends beyond patient care and includes management, research, education and consultation. Nurses are required to work closely with physicians and other healthcare staff to ensure the highest quality patient care. Nitrogen mustard compounds were studied, as the agent was found to damage fast producing white blood cells, and researchers thought this agent may have the same effect on cancer cells. As opposed to breathing in gas, patient with lymphomas were then treated intravenously with nitrogen mustard during 1942, which showed a remarkable temporary improvement, and the WBC was found to be low. After WWII, researchers began looking for other agents with similar effects to treat cancer.
Mustine was the first chemotherapy drug devised and shortly after many other cancer drugs followed of which today is a multibillion dollar enterprise. The principals used by early researchers, for treating cancer still apply today. Arsphenamine was the very first modern chemotherapy agent which comprises of an arsenic compound used to treat syphilis was discovered in 1909.
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