Exploration of External Beam Radiation Therapy Treatment for Breast Cancer Patients - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 808 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2019/02/06 Category Medicine Essay Level High school Tags: Breast Cancer Essay Did you like this example? In 1896, Wilhem Conrad Roentgen (a German physics professor) presented a lecture introducing the x-ray. There was immediate worldwide excitement and systems were quickly developed to utilize this new technology and within three years x-rays were being used to treat cancer. The American Cancer Society (2014) describes that it was common for early radiologists use themselves to test the strength of the radiation coming from machines. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Exploration of External Beam Radiation Therapy Treatment for Breast Cancer Patients" essay for you Create order They would use the skin on their arms to find a dosage that would produce a sunburn like reaction. This was called the â€Å"erythema dose† and was used as an estimate of the daily fraction to treat patients. This testing led to the discovery that radiation could cause cancer as many of these radiologists developed leukemia from the regular radiation exposure. Thankfully, methods and machines for delivering radiation therapy have continued to improve. Today there are many different techniques to delivery radiation therapy including external beam radiation, brachytherapy (internal radiation), and intraoperative radiation. The goal of radiation therapy is to treat the cancerous area while protecting healthy tissues and organs. This paper will explore the use of external beam radiation therapy for patients with breast cancer. In 2018 there will be an estimated 268,670 new cases of breast cancer – 266,120 for women and 2,550 for men (Siegel, Miller, Jemal, 2018). , Among women, this represents the largest number of new cases and the second leading cause of cancer death. According to the American Cancer Society (2017), external beam radiation is the most common type of radiation treatment for breast cancer. The American Cancer Society (2017) outlines common situations in which external beam radiation therapy is used: Following breast conserving surgery. Typically, the entire breast is treated (whole breast radiation) and a boost of radiation directed at the site where the cancer was removed. The boost is often given after the whole breast radiation treatment. Following a mastectomy with no lymph node involvement. Typically, the radiation is directed at the chest wall, mastectomy scar, and location of any drains exiting the body. If cancer was detected in lymph nodes, radiation treatment may be directed at these areas, commonly the axillary lymph nodes, supraclavicular lymph nodes, and internal mammary lymph nodes. Traditionally radiation treatment is performed five days a week for about five to six weeks. Accelerated breast irradiation is now being performed giving patients a larger dose over a shorter time. The American Cancer Society (2017) outlines these types: Hypofractionated radiation therapy – larger doses of radiation given in fewer treatments, usually for three weeks. For patients who had breast conserving surgery without cancer spread to axillary lymph nodes, results show that it is as effective in preventing cancer recurrence as treatment over five weeks and may also reduce short-term side effects. Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) – a single large dose of radiation is given in the operating room following cancer removal and prior to incision closure. 3D-conformal radiotherapy – computed tomography (CT) images are used to map the tumor bed and the radiation beams are directed to this area from multiple directions sparing healthy breast tissue. Treatment is given for five days, twice a day. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a newer treatment method. It is similar to conformal radiation therapy in that it uses CT images to map and direct the radiation beams from multiple directions to the treatment area. With IMRT, the strength of the radiation beams can be adjusted in each direction. Research suggests that IMRT may reduce toxicity in patients particularly in combination with partial breast irradiation in the prone position (Buwenge, et al., 2017). Cancer of the left breast introduces the challenge of treating the area while minimizing damage to the heart from radiation exposure.Various techniques aim to do this by considering the location of the treatment area and the patient’s anatomy. IMRT can reduce the amount of radiation in the beams that pass through the heart. Prone positioning allows gravity to pull the breast away from the heart during treatment. Deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) moves much of the heart out of the treatment field. DIBH has been shown to reduce the mean heart dose in patients while also decreasing the dose to the lungs (Bergom, Currey, Desai, Tai, Strauss, 2018). Another modern technique is volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and is an evolution of IMRT. With IMRT, the radiation beam is directed at a fixed number of locations with each beam having its own intensity level. VMAT allows for radiation to be delivered along the entire rotation of the machine arm and for the intensity to be adj usted at each position. It seems that the research of VMAT in treating breast cancer is limited and it is unclear when this technique would result in an advantage over established methods (Cozzi, et al., 2017). Radiation therapy to treat breast cancer as well as radiation therapy in general is an ever-evolving field. Research continues to fine-tune current strategies and develop new ones.

Sustainable Income From Offshore Sustainable Agriculture

SUSTAINABLE INCOME FROM OFFSHORE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE Here at International Coffee Farms we believe that owning sustainable offshore agriculture for a long-term sustainable income is the†¦ â€Å"Opportunity of the Decade† For almost 3 years now we have been putting our money where our mouth is†¦since the summer of 2012 until April 2014 as consultants to a developing coffee farming enterprise in Colombia, and since June of 2014 as Principals in our own specialty coffee farms here in Boquete, Panama. The notion that investing in agricultural land is a very good way to diversify a risky, highly-correlated and often manipulated portfolio of paper assets in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETF’s, etc. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦is no surprise to us! We have told our†¦show more content†¦We also understand that the sustainability we talk about constantly is not only economic. Sure money counts. But so does the environment and, very importantly, the people who are largely responsible for growing and producing the specialty coffee we all desperately need every morning of our lives. These are the people who produce our profits! Providing social sustainability is a critical pillar in any business model that is going to last for generations to provide a legacy income for you and your heirs. At International Coffee Farms we have set aside a full 20% of our coffee farm profits to ensure the local indigenous Panamanian Indian farmers working for us are cared for properly. That’s true social sustainability! Increased salaries, improved living and working conditions, new sanitary and laundry facilities and helping with the kid’s educational needs are but a few of the benefits we provide. This bonus pool exists so that all workers can share in the value created by turning-around poorly run existing commercial coffee farms into professionally run specialty coffee farms. We invest in our people and we believe they will return the favor by caring for our coffee. Happy farmers = Happy coffee! Our unique approach to Social Sustainability is a joint responsibility equally shared

Concept of Gender Order Free-Samples for Students-Myassignment

Question: Identify and Discuss the three Separate Elements of the Gender order revealed in the Myths of Pendora's. Answer: Gender order is an interesting concept in todays world. There is no point denying the fact that with the rise of feminism, many people have raised question over the validity of the patriarchal ideology that has remained ingrained in the minds of the people for a prolonged period of time. Herein lays the importance of the concept of gender order, as found in the writings of R.W Connell who claimed that the gender order of a particular society represents the pattern of power relation existent between the men and the women in that specific society. The gendered assumptions of a society can be traced back to the mythological tales as well that has largely shaped the socially constructed patriarchal perceptions of the world, and the Greek myth Pandoras box if revisited, will bear testimony to the same. Hence, it would be discreet to discuss and critically analyze the three distinct elements of gender order as found in this mythological tale (Simons and Merrill 2014). Before analyzing the elements of gender order as identified in the myth of Pandora, it is important to re-define the concept of gender order. As defined by Jill Mathews, in 1984, the gender order is a patterned system of ideological practices performed by the individuals of a society based on the gender they are born into, and thus it emphasizes the importance of behaving in accordance of ones gender attributes. The gender order is created, re-created and sustained over the ages with the help of the mythological tales, and Pandoras tale is no exception here. First of all, the tale of Pandora clearly states how Pandora or the first woman of the world had no origin of her own, until Prometheus stole fire from God, and had to be punished. It is at this time that out of a solely male context was a woman born, with Zeus commissioning Hephaestus to fashion a woman out of earth. It is important to mention here that the Bible also refers to the first woman as being created after and out of man, and thus most of the cultural tales refuse to offer distinct existence to a woman (Rabinowitz 2013). A woman cannot be born of her own, but rather she is being given life. This way of offering a passive role to the females have helped in marginalizing women over the ages, as the weaker sex, a sex that cannot act on its own, but can be acted upon (Bryld and Lykke 2000). The gendered role imposed upon each of the sexes, even often against the wish of the individuals have been reinforced by the mythological tales like Pandoras myth that has kept on re-iterat ing the importance of men assuming an active role of a perpetrator, while the women should be left to act upon. They are to be coerced into silence, and cannot protest or revolt, and can only act when they are being commanded to do the same (Butler 2011). Pandora was being made by the men, and this simply undermines the strength of women, by at the same time negating any distinct identity to them. The women are being created or are being given authority and identity by men, and hence they must conform to the wishes of the creator. The male dominant worldview of defining a woman in relation to a man is clear here. Another element of gender order as found here s the idea of passing the blame of ay kind of wrong-doing to the weaker sex. The Bible states that the Eve was responsible for the painful miseries brought about in the world, as she was the Temptress tempting Adam to consume the forbidden Apple, and yet Adam who committed the sin with his own hands has been exempted from the blame. Similarly, in the myth of Pandora, Pandora was being given a box by Zeus, and was forbidden to open the jar. According to the myth, the world was in its happy and harmonious state until one day, Pandora failed to restrain herself and open the box that in turn brought all the ills, such as the woes and miseries in the world (Pilcher 2014). The woman-blaming mechanism has been a very common weapon being used by the patriarchal society that has believed in passing on the blame to the women. The myth of Pandora instead of showing Pandora as a giving, creative and procreative mother shows her in the light of the or igin of all the evils in the world. The archaic gynocentric worldview is reflected here. The Genesis as well as the myth of Pandora have sharply criticized the probing and questioning mind of the females, as women are to be silenced, they are not meant to reveal inquisitiveness to understand which rights remain hidden in the Pandora box (Breen 2014). The third element of gender order as found here is an inclination of a male dominating society to commodity and objectify the existence of women, treating them as a mean to achieve something rather than an end in itself. There is no point denying the fact that the myth shows Pandora as a woman created as revenge as well as a curse for the theft of Prometheus. Traditionally, women have been denied any individual identity, let alone the idea of authority, and she has been treated as a mere currency of exchange for stronger and authoritative men, who can make and mould them to suit their selfish interests (Songe-Moller 2003). Pandora is not representing the inherent beauty of Nature creation, but rather becomes a pawn of power in the struggle between the males for greater power, dominance and authority. Pandora was indeed created by Zeus for punishing the audacity of Prometheus, and she was being denied any individual authority. To conclude, it is important to mention here that the western myths replete with the images and ideas of males assuming stronger, self-reliant roles of perpetrators, while women assuming the role of innocent and passive sufferers, and yet carrying all the guilt. The gender-driven patter of power and privilege based relations shown between the sexes have filled the minds of the people of patriarchal societal values that have facilitated the acts of female oppression over the years. References Breen, M.S., 2014. Pandoras Senses: The Feminine Character of the Ancient Text. Bryld, M. and Lykke, N., 2000.Cosmodolphins: Feminist cultural studies of technology, animals, and the sacred. Zed Books. Butler, J., 2011.Gender trouble: Feminism and the subversion of identity. routledge. Pilcher, J. and Whelehan, I., 2004.50 key concepts in gender studies. Sage. Rabinowitz, N.S., 2013. Ancient Myth and Feminist Politics 18.Roman Literature, Gender and Reception: Domina Illustris,13, p.267. Simons, J.L. and Merrill, R., 2014. Razing cain with chandler and wilder: The prometheus-pandora myth in double indemnity.Texas Studies in Literature and Language,56(4), pp.349-375. Songe-Mller, V., 2003.Philosophy without women: the birth of sexism in Western thought. AC Black.