Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy Together to Treat Cancer

Abstract

A routine of using several different anti-cancer agents together has been established as being an effective and practical way of treating advanced cancer. Sequentially radiation therapy can be given to maintain or increase the initial help of chemotherapy. The anti-cancer drugs may in some cases be continued with and/or after completion of radiation to maintain the benefits. Partial or total surgical excision of cancer treated first or afterward by chemotherapy and radiation has added to disease control. Fifty-nine advanced cancers have been treated in this fashion by the authors, giving objective and subjective benefits of over six months duration, many for much longer than six months.

When should we send in our rads to bat alone?

“…Representative publications on the subject are: Grady, et al (1970) Jesse, et al ( 1969) Smith, et al ( 1972) Sullivan, et al ( 1960) von Essen, et al (1968) Friedman, et al ( 1967) Kaplan (1972 More conclusive evidence is coming forward however. An example is a paper by Ansfield et al 1972), reporting a statistically adequate prospective trial of radiotherapy alone, compared with radiotherapy plus T.V.…”

“…Though most publications in the clinical field have been on statistically uncontrolled or inadequate studies, and there is as yet n o consensus on indications and detailed management, there is a general acceptance that combination can be more effective than radiotherapy alone and that morbidity and mortality can be kept within acceptable limits. Representative publications on the subject are:- Grady, et al (1970) Jesse, et al ( 1969) Smith, et al ( 1972) Sullivan, et al ( 1960) von Essen, et al (1968) Friedman, et al ( 1967) Kaplan (1972 More conclusive evidence is coming forward however. An example is a paper by Ansfield et al 1972), reporting a statistically adequate prospective trial of radiotherapy alone, compared with radiotherapy plus T.V.…”