Treating Cancer: An Overview
Author: John Published Under: Health
The type of treatment that is used to fight and control cancer varies greatly depending on what type of cancer is present and whether or not it has spread to other parts of the body. There are many considerations that go into prescribing treatment, including the patients age, health, and how well they will respond to the treatment.
Usually there is not one specific treatment used to deal with cancer, but instead a combination of treatments that can include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Biological therapy, hormone therapy, stem cell transplantation, and bone marrow transplants are also an option depending on the type of cancer.
There are some types of cancer that respond well to a specific type of treatment, while others are best treated with a combination of therapies.
Local and Systemic Therapy
Depending on the type of cancer, local therapy, systemic therapy, or a combination of both is used to treat the cancer.
- Local Therapy: During local therapy, the cancer, tumor, or cancer cells are removed from only a specific part of the body. In the case of tumors, sugery is often used to remove the tumor, but local radiation therapy can also be used to target the tumor.
- Systemic Therapy: During Systemic therapy, drugs or chemicals are sent throughout the blood stream, in an effort to destroy cancer cells all over the entire body. This type of therapy can kill or slow down the cancer cells that have begun to spread to other parts of the body. Chemotherapy is one of the more common types of systemic therapy, although biological therapy and hormone therapy are also common.
Side Effects of Treatment
One of the major side effects of many types of cancer treatments, especially systemic therapy, is that it can affect other healthy cells and tissues in the body. The effects these treatments have can vary by person, as well as by what type of cancer is present.
Before treatment is started, it is essential to speak with the doctor regarding what type of side-effects can occur and how to best deal with them. This often involves maintaining a healthy diet, as well avoiding areas where one might become infected.