Whether cancer treatment is possible for an individual depends on the type and stage of the cancer, the type of treatment available, and other factors. Some cancers are more treatable than others, but ever cancer requires a specific approach. There is no single cure for all types of cancer.
?What are the different types of cancer treatment
There are many different methods. The type of treatment you receive depends on the type of cancer and how advanced it is. Some people will have only one treatment, but most people have a combination of treatments, such as surgery with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. When you need treatment, you may experience a range of emotions. It is natural to feel overwhelmed and confused. However, speaking with your doctor and learning about the types of treatment you might receive can help you feel more in control of your emotions.
Biomarker Testing for Cancer Treatment
Biomarker testing is a way to look for genes, proteins, and other substances (called biomarkers or tumor markers) that can provide information about cancer. Biomarker testing can help you and your doctor choose the best cancer treatment.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. It is one of the primary methods and can be administered in various ways, including intra-arterial injection, oral medication, or topical creams. Your doctor will determine and use the best method for your treatment. In this method, hospitalization is usually not required.
Hormone Therapy and its Role in Cancer Treatment
Hormone therapy is a treatment that slows or stops the growth of breast and prostate cancers that use hormones to grow. By stopping the growth of cancer cells, it leads to recovery and treatment. This may be done through medication or surgery. In the surgical method, glands that produce hormones are removed to prevent cancer cells from multiplying.
Hyperthermia
Hyperthermia is a treatment in which body tissue is heated up to 45 degrees Celsius to help damage and kill cancer cells with little or no damage to normal tissue. Hyperthermia is a newer method in cancer treatment that has shown excellent performance in treating tumors, providing palliative effects on pain, and controlling tumor size.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps your immune system fight cancer. The immune system consists of white blood cells and lymphatic organs that destroy cancer cells. The body naturally identifies and fights any abnormal tissue.
Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy uses a drug activated by light to kill cancer and other abnormal cells. This method is currently used primarily for certain skin cancers. The drugs used in this treatment are sensitive to light and can destroy cancer cells by damaging the blood vessels that feed them or by activating the immune system.
Radiation Therapy (Radiotherapy)
Radiation therapy is a treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. There are two types:
- External Beam Radiation: Delivered by a machine that moves around you and sends radiation to a specific point.
- Internal Radiation (Brachytherapy): A superior method where a “seed” or capsule containing radioactive material is placed inside or near the cancerous tissue.
Radiation therapy is used to destroy, crush, slow down, and shrink cancer cells. It also reduces the patient’s pain intensity and prevents complications such as blindness or urinary incontinence. It may take a long time (weeks or months) to destroy cancer cells with this method because the process is gradual and cells die over time.
Chemotherapy (Detailed)
In this method, chemical drugs enter the body orally or via injection (through IV or direct injection into the bladder, etc.). These drugs are toxic and can damage healthy cells, but healthy cells are capable of repairing themselves after some time. This method is used to shrink tumors and prepare the ground for other treatments (radiation, surgery, etc.). Chemotherapy aims to stop the excessive growth of cancer cells and prevent them from spreading to other parts of the body.
Bone Marrow Transplant
A bone marrow transplant involves transplanting stem cells to replace the patient’s diseased bone marrow so they can tolerate high doses of chemotherapy or radiation. Before the transplant, cancer cells in the bone marrow are completely destroyed using chemo, radiation, or both, which also destroys the healthy stem cells in the bone marrow.
Stem Cell Transplant
Stem cell transplants are procedures that restore blood-forming stem cells in people whose cells have been destroyed by high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy.