Português

Abstract

Abstract: As an invasive and aggressive pathology, cancer has a decisive influence on
the patient's quality of life, so that the study of the correlation of these factors becomes
important in the dynamic issue of public health. The present work aims, mainly, to
conceptualize and detail the biological processes of carcinogenesis, diagnosis and
treatment of the disease, as well as to discuss the effect of a humanized approach to the
dialogue with the patient and the choice of adequate treatment in the influence of the
quality of life of individuals affected by cancer. Given the advances in biomolecular and
biochemical studies, it is known that the principle of carcinogenesis lies in mutations and
cellular modifications that are not repressed, an inefficiency of cellular metabolism. Thus,
the prevalence of oncogenes, the unproductive activity of tumor suppressor genes and
the high expression of enzymes, such as telomerase, contribute to the high proliferation
of tumor cells. This complex and rapid carcinogenic metabolism contributes to the intense
expansiveness and enables tumor invasion and metastasis. It should be noted that, as it
is intrinsically a biomolecular dysfunction, there is no age restriction for the occurrence of
tumors, being present in fetuses – such as teratomas, as well as in adults, in a way that
impairs human homeostasis. For example, brain tumors that can lead to the syndrome
of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion and similar disorders. Thus, early
diagnosis is important for minimizing damage and for the effectiveness of treatment and
cure, using biochemical methods, such as quantification of substances in blood and urine,
imaging tests, physical examinations and biopsies. In addition to detecting the disease
in its early stages, good ethical management and communication skills are needed to
report the diagnosis, a necessary and important situation for the patient's quality of life
and prognosis. The treatment, responsible for the greatest impact on the patient's quality
of life, can be performed both surgically and clinically, such as the use of chemotherapy
and antimitotic drugs. The treatment of tumors in Brazil is highlighted in the Unified Health
System (SUS) mainly in centers specialized in oncology, such as the Oncological
Research Center in Florianópolis, CEPON. In these centers, the patient has access to
multidisciplinary treatment, which, in addition to aiming at a cure, makes it possible to
improve the individual's quality of life, for example, through the use of acupuncture to
manage chronic pain. Therefore, in a unique way, it is noticeable that cancer
compromises the individual's quality of life in all aspects related to the pathology, so it is
necessary to understand the related factors to offer the best possible quality of life for the
patient.
Keywords: Cancer, Oncology, Diagnosis, Treatment, Quality of Life