Abdominal Chemotherapy Sheds Hope On Ovarian Cancer - A recent ovarian cancer study reported that injections of chemotherapy drugs directly into the abdominal cavity increase survival for those with advanced ovarian cancer by about one year. Apparently these study results were solid and promising enough that the National Cancer Institute is asking doctors to start administering abdominal chemotherapy as an additional treatment to IV chemotherapy.

Historically, the National Cancer Institute has not made such impacting statements of confidence and action very often. It appears that the benefits of abdominal chemotherapy are so great that a stronger endorsement of this new administration of chemotherapy be known about and available to women suffering with ovarian cancer.

With abdominal chemotherapy traditional chemotherapy drugs are used, but are injected much closer to the site of ovarian cancer. Higher doses of the chemotherapy drugs are able to penetrate the ovaries and abdominal cavity.

Treatment usually involves six cycles of both abdominal chemotherapy and intravenous chemotherapy. The side effects of chemotherapy can leave some women simply too weak or with a loss of spirit that they are unable or unwilling to carry out a full round of treatment. The important thing is that even incomplete chemotherapy and abdominal chemotherapy treatment drastically improves the odds of survival.

Historically, ovarian cancer has a fifty percent death rate for those diagnosed with ovarian cancer within five years. These odds may be changed significantly with this new form of chemotherapy treatment for ovarian cancer. For more information, visit http://MayoClinic.com. There are many articles about the current technology and treatment types available as well.

Cancer Treatment History

Cancer is caused by DNA damage that results in mutated genes that begin to encode for certain proteins that control cell division. Damage to DNA in this manner is caused by exposure to carcinogens that are physical or chemical agents.

Cancer treatments are becoming more specialized and specific for the type of cancer pathology as research develops. Basically, though, there are three main types of cancer treatment: radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery.

Until the 19th century cancer treatment was based primarily upon the humor theory of four bodily fluids: phlegm, blood, black and yellow bile. Depending on the patient's humor, cancer treatment was comprised of blood-letting, diet and sometimes laxatives.

Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries doctors were dissecting more bodies for research purposes. Various doctors had striking theories and explanations as to the cause of cancer. Some thought that cancer was a poison and a contagious disease. Wilhelm Fabry thought that breast cancer was caused by mammary glands that had become clogged.

When the microscope was invented and more widely used it was discovered that cancer travels through the lymph system to infect other portions of the body. Though surgical treatment became more common, the results were not that great because of poor hygiene and non-sterile conditions.

When hygiene was improved during the 18th century, the overall surgical treatment statistics improved greatly. In the 19th century Marie Curie discovered radiation and in doing so found the first non-surgical and effective treatment of cancer. Radiation therapy has gone on to provide some of the most promising cancer treatment known to date. As radiation therapy evolves, we're seeing an increase in the accuracy of radiation therapy, including micro-level treatment of various types of cancer.