 |
||
What is Typical Treatment for Cancer?
In general, three major forms of cancer treatment have evolved, oftentimes used in some combination, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments (see more below). In addition to these, many patients suffering from cancer will be offered other treatments either aimed at controling the tumor or at improving the symptoms and quality of life of the patient.
SurgeryOne of the most obvious ways to remove cancerous cells from the body is to simply cut it out. Surgery to remove some or all of a tumor is often a component of treatment for cancer. How easy it is to remove a given tumor depends on many factors, including the type of tumor, its location, its size and how invasive and widespread it is. In some cases of early cancer or well circumscribed tumors in non-vital areas, the entire tumor can be removed and this may be all the treatment an individual requires. However, very invasive tumors which involve vital structures can be very difficult or impossible to remove fully. In general, widespread tumors, which have metastasized from its site of origin to a distant organ, are less likely to be removed surgically and the treatment of some of these cancers may only include chemotherapy and/or radiation, without surgery.
ChemotherapyChemotherapy is a form of treatment for cancer which involves giving the patient specific medications (chemotherapeutic drugs) which kill cancerous cells. There are many different medications designed for this purpose. In general, these treatments aim to kill cancer cells while preserving normal, healthy tissue in the body. Many of these chemotherapy drugs do this by targeting cells that are dividing (growing and multiplying) rapidly. This targets cancer cells but can also do damage to some normal cells as well. For example, rapidly dividing cells of the bone marrow (which produces blood cells), the lining of the digestive tract and the skin can be damaged by these treatments as well. Therefore, some forms of chemotherapy can have a high rate of side effects the patient will experience.How well a given tumor responds to chemotherapy treatment for cancer varies quite dramatically from type to type. While some cancers respond well to chemotherapy, others seem resistant to all types of chemotherapy in existence and are not adequately treated by these methods. Depending on the cancer and the patients' specific disease, chemotherapy may be used alone or as a combination with any other cancer treatments such as radiation therapy and surgery.
Radiation TreatmentsAnother form of treatment for cancer is the use of high-energy rays or particles to kill the cancer cells. X-rays and other high-energy particles cause damage to cells, particularly the genetic material of cells. While this is potentially harmful to any cell, ones that are dividing rapidly are particularly susceptible to its effects. Therefore, like chemotherapy, radiation therapy aims to kill cancer cells while minimizing the potential side effects to normal cells in the body. However, like chemotherapy, normal cells can be injured by radiation and therefore these treatments are not without side effects.There are various methods to deliver radiation to the body. The newest treatments aim to maximize the dose of radiation to the cancer while minimizing the exposure of normal body parts to the harmful rays. Some examples of these treatments can be quite precise, firing narrow beams of radiation at the tumor to pinpoint it and minimize side effects. Examples of this are so-called "radiosurgery". Similar to chemotherapy, some types of tumors respond better to radiation than others. It can be used alone occasionally as a primary treatment for cancer but more commonly is used in combination with other treatments, such as surgery and/or chemotherapy.
Symptomatic TreatmentIn addition to treatments that aim to destroy the cancer cells themselves (like surgery, chemotherapy and radiation), some treatment for cancer offered to cancer victims aim simply to improve or elliminate their symptoms and to make them more comfortable. Often used alongside other treatments, these "symptomatic treatments" do nothing to cure the cancer itself, but help in the general care and comfort of the patient. For example, pain control medications may be prescribed for patients with cancer-related pain. Medications or blood transfusion may be administered to treat anemia. These treatments vary depending on the types of symptoms each individual patient is suffering.Palliative Care and End-of-Life CareIn some cases of very advanced cancer or very resistant forms of cancer which cannot be treated effectively, the decision is made not to pursue further cancer treatment but rather just to let the disease take its course and keep the individual comfortable. The palliative care does not aim to cure the disease, but simply to make the patient comfortable while the disease continues, ultimately leading to the death of the individual. This type of treatment can include symptomatic treatments, as discussed above, to make the patient more comfortable, but can also include end-of-life care such as home nursing or nursing home care, psychological and social support, and spiritual support and guidance.Other Treatments:There are other treatments for cancer not discussed above which are used in some patients, but not as common or widespread as those mentioned already. Some are specific to only one type of cancer and therefore are only offered in those circumstances. One example is hormonal treatments. Some tumors, such as some prostate cancers, respond to hormonal treatments. These medications help to slow the growth of the tumor and may be used in combination with other treatments (surgery, radiation, etc.). Another example is bone marrow transplant which is occasionally offered as part of the treatment of aggressive cancers such as some leukemias. |
Search This Site
|
|
Contents
Have You Found This Site Useful?
Use the button below, to add us to your favorite bookmarking service: |
||
|
Back to the top of the Treatment for Cancer page.
Return to the General Cancer Information section.
|Home | Contact |Privacy Policy |Links |
|
||
|
| ||
The goals of treatment for cancer are generally to reduce the amount of cancer cells in the body, to zero ideally. However, this is often easier said than done. Part of the problem is that the malignant cells are living in and invading normal tissue around it. While some of these tumors can be fairly well circumscribed and isolated, some are quite invasive and spread throughout various parts of the body, making their removal quite difficult.