cannot be achieved, therapy that slows the growth or spread

of the tumor may prolong life significantly. Therapy with

this aim is referred to as palliation (American Cancer

Society, 1981).

 Three basic treatment approaches are used in both

curative and palliative cancer care: surgery, radiation

therapy, and chemotherapy.

 According to Haller and Glick (1983), surgery is

historically the first form of treatment for cancer. It

seeks to eradicate the tumor by the complete removal of all

cancerous and pre-cancerous cells (American Cancer Society,

1981).

 In addition, many cancers are now treated with

radiation delivered either through an external beam or

through an implant of radioactive material. Because cancer

cells are more sensitive to x-rays and radioactive substances

than are normal cells, radiation therapy is used in the

prevention, curative treatment, and palliation of many

cancers either alone or with another treatment modality

(American Cancer Society, 1981).

 According to Haller and Glick (1983), the use of drugs

in the treatment of cancer is a relatively new event that has

had a great impact on cancer care. They have pointed out

that chemotherapy, unlike surgery or radiation therapy, is a

systemic treatment. That is, both surgery and radiation