Chemotherapy: The Beacon of Hope and Challenge in the Battle Against Cancer

Hebah Mohammed – Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope)

In the journey of healing and resilience, challenges accumulate and stories converge in the world of chemotherapy. This weapon holds within it the hope of recovery, but at the same time, it poses a great challenge to the patient due to its physical and psychological effects. To understand this treatment, we must delve into the depths of this topic, to understand its types, its impact on the disease, the challenges faced by the patient, the valiant resistance, and the moments of courageous surrender.

In an era where technology and development are racing, we contemplate the medical devices used in chemotherapy treatments and compare their modernity in our country with neighboring countries, to understand how this development affects treatment outcomes and the quality of care.

Children Confronting Cancer

Six-year-old Leen finally managed to find some peace after days of crying due to the pain of chemotherapy doses that burned her body day after day, causing continuous crying fits.

Leen suffers from lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system. Her condition was diagnosed in March 2020. According to her mother, the treatment process was delayed due to a shortage of empty beds in the hospital, causing her to wait for days before finally starting treatment.

In a related context, two-and-a-half-year-old Muhammad Ahmad suffers from kidney cancer. Despite his captivating smile, Muhammad hopes every day to return home after receiving chemotherapy doses over eight months, with additional doses in the coming months. His family is trying to move from Ibb to Sana’a to reduce treatment costs.

In this harsh reality, Muhammad’s mother says: “The cost of travel for each treatment session reaches 100,000 Yemeni rials, which is a large amount for us, especially since we are suffering from financial hardship after the government stopped paying the salaries of employees.” She adds that the difficult financial situation forces the family to borrow money for the treatment doses.

Chemotherapy and its Side Effects

Chemotherapy is one of the main cancer treatment methods used to combat this dangerous disease. This type of treatment is the main option used by doctors to contain and treat cancerous tumors. Along with this effective treatment come many side effects that can be an additional challenge faced by the patient during their treatment journey.

Dr. Mujahid Al-Jawfi, a public health specialist at the National Center for Cancer Treatment, says: “Based on a wide range of factors, a medical oncologist chooses the appropriate drugs for chemotherapy. This choice depends on factors such as the type and extent of the tumor, along with other factors such as the patient’s age and general health. In addition, the oncologist carefully determines the appropriate doses and schedule of the drugs, based on several other factors.”

In a related context, Dr. Saeed Nu’man, a specialist in oncology, radiation therapy, and nuclear medicine, says: “When it comes to treating specific cancer with chemotherapy, the type of treatment is chosen, and a globally accepted treatment plan is developed based on leading scientific methods. The treatment plan is determined according to the patient’s age and the stage of the disease at diagnosis. The patient’s ability to tolerate this treatment is considered based on their physical condition, blood test results, heart conditions, and the presence of accompanying internal diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure.”

He points out that this treatment plan relies on modern scientific research and global guidelines in the field of chemotherapy cancer treatment, which helps achieve the best results for the patient and reduces potential side effects. This plan aims to maximize the benefits of chemotherapy while preserving the patient’s safety and health and improving their quality of life during and after treatment.

Dr. Salah Abdallah Fari’, a consultant in oncology and chemotherapy, also shares his insights, saying: “There are many side effects that appear in the patient while undergoing treatment, including nausea and vomiting. This varies from person to person; for example, it occurs more in young girls and more in smokers. Other side effects include diarrhea, hair loss, fatigue, and insomnia. Side effects resulting from chemotherapeutic drugs include mouth and throat problems, through the appearance of ulcers and inflammation that cause pain that hinders eating.”

Regarding how chemotherapy causes nausea and vomiting, Fari’ explained that chemotherapeutic drugs directly stimulate a specific area in the brain. They also stimulate nerve cells in the stomach and intestines, leading to the release of serotonin. Through these two methods, these drugs send a message to the vomiting center located in the brainstem, which in turn sends signals and commands to all parts involved in vomiting; such as the throat, stomach, intestines, esophagus, diaphragm, and salivary glands, and signals to the respiratory system to stop for a very short time, preventing vomit from entering the lungs.

To prevent the side effects of vomiting and nausea, Fari’ suggested avoiding caffeine stimulants, refraining from alcohol and smoking, and avoiding fatty, acidic, and fried foods, as well as sweets. He recommends eating small, frequent meals instead of the usual three meals.

Al-Jawfi emphasized that these side effects can be overcome before they occur by taking preventive measures before starting chemotherapy, as well as measures during treatment, and medical procedures after receiving treatment. The goal of these measures is to prevent the occurrence of side effects or to mitigate or treat them, to avoid complications that may arise as a result of these side effects.

Variability in Treatment Response

According to Dr. Nu’man, each patient and each case differs in its response to treatment; this is affected by several factors such as age, physical strength, the stage at which it was diagnosed, and the presence of accompanying diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney diseases.

He pointed out that the dosage rates and the patient’s adherence to the dosage schedules depend on the patient’s health and nutritional status; immunodeficiency, anemia, and malnutrition can lead to postponement of dosage schedules. The patients’ financial situation also affects their ability to access treatment centers, especially if these centers are far from their place of residence.

He explained that in chemotherapy treatment, there is no specific device for administering doses; each chemotherapeutic dose is given intravenously, while radiation therapy relies on modern devices, such as the linear accelerator, and is used to treat certain cases and at certain stages of the disease, which helps patients recover and improve their response.

Al-Jawfi pointed out that the response to chemotherapy is not directly related to the side effects of the treatment. However, patients with good general health, good nutrition, excellent self-care, family care, and medical care can tolerate the effects of chemotherapy better than those who suffer from poor health and do not receive adequate medical care.

He indicated that most of the necessary devices and supplies for chemotherapy are readily available, such as chemotherapy drug preparation data and various injection tools. These are machines inside which chemotherapy is prepared, protecting the staff who prepare the chemotherapy, as well as protecting the external environment. This equipment does not differ much from that available in neighboring countries.

Chemotherapy and Official Authorities

Al-Jawfi affirms that the role played by various concerned parties in providing chemotherapy is essential to meet the needs of patients in Yemen. In official facilities, chemotherapy drugs are available at a rate of 98%, reflecting the great efforts made to ensure the provision of the necessary drugs to combat cancer. In addition, these facilities provide chemotherapy administration services at a rate of 95%, indicating a high level of efficiency in providing these treatments.

However, he points out that non-governmental organizations only provide simple services, limited to administering chemotherapy only, without providing the comprehensive care and support that patients need. This gap in services reflects the significant challenges faced by patients in obtaining comprehensive care.

He explained that the provision of complete services related to chemotherapy in official facilities reflects a commitment to providing comprehensive care to patients, while non-governmental organizations may be limited in the capabilities they provide for this. Therefore, official facilities often remain the best option for obtaining comprehensive and effective care for patients who need chemotherapy.

For his part, Dr. Nu’man appeals to the concerned authorities, including governments, charitable organizations, civil society organizations, and businessmen, to provide organized support to increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy and biological therapy. He emphasizes that coordination and integration between these parties have become necessary to reduce the spread of cancer and achieve a noticeable increase in the recovery rate.

He also points to the importance of health awareness and the necessity of educating patients about the importance of consulting doctors in the early stages of the disease, before it spreads and leads to a deterioration in the condition. He stresses the importance of the role of the media in effectively disseminating awareness, to enable society to understand the risks associated with cancer and the importance of early detection and treatment in improving the chances of recovery.