Cancer Management and Treatment

Running head: CANCER MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT 1
Cancer Management and Treatment
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Cancer Management and Treatment
Cancer refers to a group of diseases that are distinguished from other ailments by the
growth and development of abnormal cells. These cells tend to divide in a rapid and
unprecedented manner; moreover they have the ability to penetrate and destroy normal tissue in
the body. It is this property of cancerous cells that allow the disease to spread throughout the
body (Weinberg, 2014).The signs and symptoms associated with cancer are not essential
universal. They are dependent on the severity and part of the body that is being affected. The
most common symptoms associated with cancer are fatigue, difficulty swallowing, weight loss,
changes in bowel movement as well as bladder habits, changes in skin complexion, lumps or
hardening of tissue that can be felt under the skin, persistent cough, migraines, unexplainable
bleeding, and persistent indigestion. In the physiological aspect, cancer is caused by mutation in
the cell DNA causing the latter cell to develop abnormalities (Reckamp, 2016).
There are two types of cancer treatments that are generally practiced across the world.
These two are radiation therapy (radiotherapy) chemical therapy (chemotherapy). Radiotherapy
refers to complex technique that utilizes advanced technology to target cancerous cells with
beams of radiation. The targeting process allows for only the affect cells to be destroyed
resulting in very little damage to normal cells (Weinberg, 2014). Chemotherapy on the other
hand deals with the employment of special drugs that are made to target fast growing cells in the
body and kill them off. Cancerous cells are rapid growers as such they are easily located and
killed off by the drugs. When the two treatments are offered simultaneously the likelihood of
remission and being cured are very high (Reckamp, 2016). For this experiment we will use
information provided by 200 cancer patients at the local Wellington Regional Hospital. The
assessment will be carried out over a one and half year period. The data will be correct for

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patient undertaking both chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and patients undergoing either
chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Patients will be excluded from the analysis if they stop treatment
or switch treatment within the stipulated treatment duration.
Our research objectives are:
1. To determine where a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy increases the chance of
recovery for cancer patients
2. To determine where a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy reduce the rate of
cancer spread in the body.
Statistical Hypotheses:
Research objective 1
H0: there is no significant difference between the means of individuals undergoing a combination
of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and those undergoing chemotherapy only
H1: individuals undergoing a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy have a higher
recovery probability compared to those undergoing chemotherapy only
H0: there is no significant difference between the means of individuals undergoing a combination
of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and those undergoing radiotherapy only
H1: individuals undergoing a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy have a higher
recovery probability compared to those undergoing radiotherapy only
Research objective 2
H0: there is no significant difference between the means of individuals undergoing a combination
of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and those undergoing chemotherapy only