Diagnosis and Treatment options

Cancer Treatments

1.) Surgery

Surgery is the oldest form of cancer treatment and remains the most successful treatment when the tumor is small and localized. More cures result from surgery than any other type of therapy. Often, the surgeon starts with a biopsy to determine the type and extent of the cancer. After meeting with the patient, a follow up surgery may be required. Normally, surgery involves removing the primary tumor plus a large area of tissue surrounding the tumor. This is done in case cancer cells are hiding in the normal tissue near the tumor. Many people with cancer will undergo surgery, either by itself or in combination with other therapies.

2.) Radiation Therapy

Also known as radiotherapy, this treatment uses large doses of high-energy beams or particles to destroy cancer cells in a specifically targeted area. Radiation damages the internal structure of cancer cells, which keeps them from multiplying. Radiotherapy is most commonly used on localized solid tumors, and on cancers that affect the bloodstream, such as leukemia and lymphoma.

For some patients, radiation therapy will be the only cancer treatment they need. Radiation is often used in combination with other treatments. Used before or during other procedures, radiation shrinks the tumor to make surgery or chemotherapy more effective. Used afterward, it destroys any cancer cells that might remain. There are several different types of radiation therapy

3.) Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses powerful medications to kill cancer cells, control their growth, or relieve pain symptoms. Chemotherapy may involve one drug, or a combination of two or more drugs, depending on the type of cancer and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. Chemotherapy can be used in combination with other treatments such as surgery or radiation, to make sure all cancer cells have been eliminated.

Chemotherapy is given in many ways. Listed here are some of the ways:

  • Intravenous (IV) is by far the most common method. A needle with a plastic catheter is inserted into a vein. The needle will be removed and the catheter will remain during the treatment. It is attached with tubing to a plastic bag holding the chemotherapy drugs. The catheter is taken out at the end of each treatment.
  • IV bags are attached to a tall metal stand with wheels, providing some mobility in the clinic. Some patients wear a small pump outside the body, with minimal interference to their normal routine.
  • Depending on the type of chemotherapy, how many treatments are scheduled, or the health of a person's veins, some patients may need to have an implanted port or another type of IV catheter put in surgically. These ports and catheters are usually removed after treatments are completed.
  • Oral (by mouth) chemotherapy drugs are given in pill or liquid form.
  • Injections are administered into the muscle, under the skin, or directly into a tumor, depending on the type or location of the cancer. This could include hormonal therapy

Chemotherapy can be given in many different places: at home, a doctor's office, a clinic, a hospital's outpatient department, or as an "inpatient" in a hospital. A patient beginning chemotherapy may need a short hospital stay so that the medicine's effects can be watched closely and any needed changes made.

4.)Immunotherapy

Treatments that use the body's own natural defenses to fight cancer are called immunotherapy, also known biological therapy. This type of therapy works on white blood cells - the body's first line of defense against disease. White blood cells can be stimulated in various ways to boost the body's immune response to cancer, with little or no effect on healthy tissue. Immunotherapy can also be used to lessen the side effects of other cancer treatments.

5.)Hormonal Therapy

Hormonal treatment adds, blocks or removes hormones. To slow or stop the growth of certain cancers (such as prostate and breast cancer), synthetic hormones or other drugs may be given to block the body's natural hormones. Sometimes surgery is needed to remove the gland that makes hormones.

6.)Integrative Therapies

Complementary alternative medicine (CAM), also known as integrative medicine can provide a holistic approach to care. If you choose to use CAM, tell your health care provider so that he/she knows your total plan of care. Some herbals interfere with chemotherapy so it is good to inform your provider about a holistic approach.

CAM Therapies used in Oncology

  • Counseling (individual, couple, family)
  • Acupuncture
  • Energy Therapies: Healing Touch, Reiki
  • Massage therapy
  • Aromatherapy
  • Music Therapy
  • Art Therapy
  • Movement Therapies: Yoga, Qigong, Dance
  • Imagery, Hypnosis
  • Relaxation therapy, Mind-Body Techniques
  • Naturopathic Medicine
  • Prayer