The Resulting Excess Of Cells Can Inhibit The Normal Function Of The Body.

The resulting excess of cells can inhibit the normal function of the body. Treatments for cancer attempt to remove or destroy the malfunctioning cells. Chemotherapy drugs target cells that are undergoing rapid cell division and kill them.
Chemotherapy is used in a number of different ways to treat cancer. It can be used preoperatively to reduce the size of a tumor to aid a surgeon in removal, postoperatively to mop up any remaining cancer cells or to treat metastatic cancer that does not respond to other treatment.
As the targeting mechanism of chemotherapy drugs is not specific to cancerous cells only to rapid division, other cells in the body are affected. These include bone marrow, skin and hair cells. Side effects therefore include hair loss, ulcers and a higher susceptibility to infection (q.v. Souhami 1998). Chemotherapy, however, is not the only method of treating cancer. Radio medicine can also be effective.
Radiotherapy uses x-rays, gamma rays and high-energy particles to destroy cancer cells either by killing them directly or by inhibiting cell division. Radiotherapy can be used as a stand-alone treatment, pre or post operatively for the same reasons as chemotherapy and in palliative care.
Side effects of radiotherapy include burning and ulceration of the skin, fibrosis and sterility if the reproductive organs are irradiated (ibid).
Current approaches to patient care are primary focused on a disease or condition. A heath care professional diagnoses as problem with normal function and then prescribes a treatment that will return the patient to health. Holistic medicine involves taking a global view of a patient rather than seeing the patient through the filter of their disease. A holistic approach to a patient may involve assessing not just their disease but also their lifestyle. Treatment may involve long-term solutions rather than a simple fix and forget approach.
Holistic practitioners argue that in a number of cases the use of drugs such as painkillers act to mask the symptoms of a disease rather than address the underlying causes. For a patient suffering with migraines for example a painkiller may temporarily assuage the pain but will not prevent recurrence. An alternative strategy may be to look for triggers such as tension or stress and alter the patient's lifestyle to avoid these situations.
In cases of depression, a patient may be prescribed with an antidepressant such as Prozac, although the use of this drug is not recommended for longer than a few months. A more holistic approach would be to assess and alter factors such as diet, exercise, social networks and other lifestyle element that may have a causal relationship with the depression suffered by the patient.
The abuse of stimulants (e.g. cocaine) is a significant social issue. Treatment strategies for patients addicted to stimulants is inherently holistic as there is no effective replacement therapy for stimulant abuse.