- Set your ground rules. Before exploring treatment options, establish some ground rules. ...
- Decide on a goal. Deciding what you want out of treatment can help you narrow your treatment choices. ...
- Research your treatment options. ...
- Analyze the benefits versus the risks. ...
- Communicate with your doctor. ...
Full Answer
How to get cancer treatment without health insurance?
Your cancer treatment plan. Your exact cancer diagnosis and stage. Special test results, such as imaging (x-rays), blood tests, tumor marker tests, genetic testing, or biomarker tests done on the tumor. Your planned treatment, its doses, the schedule for getting it, …
What is the best treatment for a cancer patient?
Your treatment planning and scheduling will serve as the structure for your cancer treatment plan. Your cancer treatment plan is essentially a written roadmap for your cancer treatment. In addition to details about your cancer and your plan for treatment, it also includes important details about your experience, like symptoms and goals. Usually, a cancer treatment plan is …
What is the remedy for cancer?
Jun 18, 2021 · Cancer treatment decisions: 5 steps to help you decide Step 1: Set your ground rules. Before exploring treatment options, establish some ground rules. ... Decide how much you... Step 2: Decide on a goal. Deciding what you want out of treatment can help you narrow your treatment choices. Are you... ...
How do you treat cancer?
Undergoing chemotherapy before surgery, for example, may shrink a tumor and make removal more successful. Adjuvant therapy: This treatment occurs after surgery and make include: chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or radiation therapy. Your care team may recommend surgery to diagnose, stage, or treat cancer:
What kind of treatment is needed for cancer?
Some people with cancer will have only one treatment. But most people have a combination of treatments, such as surgery with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. You may also have immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or hormone therapy.
Is it normal to be overwhelmed with cancer?
When you need treatment for cancer, you have a lot to learn and think about. It is normal to feel overwhelmed and confused. But, talking with your doctor and learning all you can about all your treatment options, including clinical trials, can help you make a decision you feel good about.
What Is a Cancer Treatment Plan?
When you are diagnosed with cancer, your first step is to choose your treatment options. Doing so may involve the opinions of multiple specialists, friends, and loved ones.
How to Use a Cancer Treatment Plan
Your treatment planning and scheduling will serve as the structure for your cancer treatment plan. Your cancer treatment plan is essentially a written roadmap for your cancer treatment. In addition to details about your cancer and your plan for treatment, it also includes important details about your experience, like symptoms and goals.
What Does a Cancer Treatment Plan Include?
Cancer treatment plans outline four distinct aspects of a cancer patient’s experience: general information, diagnosis, treatment plan, and symptoms. Your cancer plan may also include:
How Is a Treatment Plan Made?
Your treatment plan is the result of collaboration. Many doctors, specialists, caregivers, and friends and family members may contribute to planning your treatment. Once you decide together on the best treatment approach, the doctors and specialists will identify a plan to execute that treatment (s).
Why Do I Need a Cancer Treatment Plan?
A cancer treatment plan is a valuable tool for cancer patients, as well as their doctors and caregivers. There are many benefits of a cancer treatment plan:
SERO and Your Cancer Treatment Plan
Cancer can be overwhelming, but a cancer treatment plan can help simplify the experience for both patients and their doctors.
How to make a reasonable treatment decision?
To make a reasonable treatment decision, keep in mind the type of cancer you have, its stage, what treatment options are available and how likely these treatments are to work under these circumstances. Talk to your doctor about trustworthy websites, books and patient education materials to supplement your discussions.
How to make sure you're getting the information you need to make an informed decision?
Effective communication with your doctor is the best way to make sure you're getting the information you need to make an informed decision. To make communicating with your doctor easier, try to: Speak up when you don't understand. If you need further explanation or clarification, tell your doctor.
What to do if you don't feel supported?
If you don't feel supported in your decision-making, contact advocacy groups such as the American Cancer Society, which can put you in touch with cancer survivors who may be able to help you through this process. It might help to write down your expectations and preferences before you meet with your doctor.
Can you cure cancer?
When you're first diagnosed, it's likely you'll be interested in treatments that cure cancer. When a cure is possible, you may be willing to endure more short-term side effects in return for the chance at a cure. Ask your doctor about your chances for a cure to help you understand more about your situation. Control.
Can you endure the side effects of harsher treatments?
If this is your goal, you might not be willing to endure the side effects of harsher treatments. Comfort. If you have an advanced stage of cancer or a cancer that hasn't responded to treatments, you might decide that comfort is most important to you.
What is stem cell transplant?
Stem cell transplants are procedures that restore blood-forming stem cells in cancer patients who have had theirs destroyed by very high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Learn about the types of transplants, side effects that may occur, and how stem cell transplants are used in cancer treatment.
How many types of cancer treatments are there?
There are many types of cancer treatment. The types of treatment that you receive will depend on the type of cancer you have and how advanced it is. Some people with cancer will have only one treatment. But most people have a combination of treatments, such as surgery with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.
What is the treatment for cancer?
Radiation Therapy . Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Learn about the types of radiation, why side effects happen, which ones you might have, and more.
What is targeted therapy?
Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that targets the changes in cancer cells that help them grow, divide, and spread. Learn how targeted therapy works against cancer and about common side effects that may occur.
What is immunotherapy for cancer?
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps your immune system fight cancer. This page covers the types of immunotherapy, how it is used against cancer, and what you can expect during treatment.
What is a biomarker test?
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 a cancer treatment.
What is the procedure that removes cancer from the body?
Surgery. When used to treat cancer, surgery is a procedure in which a surgeon removes cancer from your body. Learn the different ways that surgery is used against cancer and what you can expect before, during, and after surgery.
What is the specialty of a surgeon who treats cancer?
These surgeons specialize in treating cancer through traditional (open) and minimally invasive surgery. Surgical oncologists perform biopsies (taking tiny tissue samples) to test for cancer. They also surgically remove tumors, some surrounding breast tissue, and lymph nodes to evaluate them for the presence of cancer.
What type of radiation is used for breast cancer?
The types of radiation therapy we use for breast cancer treatment at Stanford include: External radiation uses a machine called a linear accelerator (LINAC) to deliver radiation to the area where the cancer cells are found.
What is radiation therapy?
Radiation therapy is painless treatment that uses high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation to destroy cancer cells. Using the latest technology, we can precisely target tumors and minimize damage to nearby healthy tissue.
What are the different types of breast cancer treatment?
a. There are three main types of treatment for breast cancer: surgery, drug therapy, and radiation therapy. A combination of treatment types may be recommended to take place in a specific order to best treat your specific condition.
What to do after breast cancer diagnosis?
Following a diagnosis of breast cancer, we work carefully to determine the best treatment options for you and to prepare a treatment plan personalized for your needs. We try to maximize treatment success while minimizing the impact that diagnosis and treatment can have on your life.
How does chemotherapy affect hair?
For example, chemotherapy may affect your hair and nails, because it slows their growth as it slows the growth of cancer cells. Fatigue and other side effects are also possible.
What is the treatment for breast cancer?
Drug therapy, also called systemic or medical therapy, is treatment that works throughout the body to fight breast cancer. These drugs slow the growth of cancer cells or destroy them.
What kind of doctor treats ovarian cancer?
Based on your treatment options, you might have different types of doctors on your treatment team. These doctors could include: 1 A gynecologic oncologist: a gynecology doctor who is specially trained to use surgery to treat ovarian cancer; many times they are also the ones to give chemotherapy and other medicines to treat ovarian cancer 2 A radiation oncologist: a doctor who uses radiation to treat cancer 3 A medical oncologist: a doctor who uses chemotherapy and other medicines to treat cancer
What is local treatment for ovarian cancer?
Some treatments are local, meaning they treat the tumor without affecting the rest of the body. Types of local therapy used for ovarian cancer include: Surgery for Ovarian Cancer. Radiation Therapy for Ovarian Cancer.
What is the difference between a gynecologic oncologist and a radiation oncologist
A gynecologic oncologist: a gynecology doctor who is specially trained to use surgery to treat ovarian cancer; many times they are also the ones to give chemotherapy and other medicines to treat ovarian cancer. A radiation oncologist: a doctor who uses radiation to treat cancer. A medical oncologist: a doctor who uses chemotherapy ...
Why is communicating with your cancer team important?
Communicating with your cancer care team is important so you understand your diagnosis, what treatment is recommended, and ways to maintain or improve your quality of life. Different types of programs and support services may be helpful, and can be an important part of your care. These might include nursing or social work services, financial aid, ...
What is complementary medicine?
Complementary methods refer to treatments that are used along with your regular medical care. Alternative treatments are used instead of a doctor’s medical treatment.
What do people with cancer need?
People with cancer need support and information, no matter what stage of illness they may be in. Knowing all of your options and finding the resources you need will help you make informed decisions about your care.
What is a radiation oncologist?
A radiation oncologist: a doctor who uses radiation to treat cancer. A medical oncologist: a doctor who uses chemotherapy and other medicines to treat cancer. Many other specialists might be part of your treatment team as well, including physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, psychologists, sex counselors, social workers, nutritionists, ...
What factors guide additional treatment?
Factors that will guide additional treatment include: Positive margins (the presence of cancer cells at the edge of the tissue that was resected). Spread of cancer beyond the lymph nodes in the neck (extranodal extension). T3 or T4 tumors based on pathologic evaluation. N2 or N3 disease in the neck lymph nodes.
What is the treatment for neck cancer?
The initial treatment is surgical removal of the cancer with neck dissection (s). Surgery will sometimes be followed by radiation, additional surgeries, and/or chemotherapy with radiation, depending on the outcome of the primary surgery.
What is the first treatment for tongue cancer?
Tongue cancers are commonly treated with a type of surgery called a glossectomy.
What is the extent of a tongue resection?
The extent and location of a tongue resection will determine the type of reconstruction required and will also allow the doctor to predict the impact that it will have on speech and swallowing. Patients and their care teams should discuss the types of surgeries that may be required for the treatment of their cancer.
How to treat tongue cancer?
In general, there are three different options for the treatment of tongue cancers that can be used alone or in combination. Surgery. Radiation.
Can you treat tongue cancer with radiation?
Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is not commonly used to treat tongue cancer. In some cases, it is used in combination with radiation as additional treatment following surgery. Chemotherapy is usually only added to adjuvant radiation therapy if there is extranodal extension from cancerous lymph nodes in the neck, or if there is cancer left ...
Can you remove a tumor from your tongue?
If the tumor was not completely removed or if the surgical margins were positive for cancer. If the type of cancer was determined to be aggressive or of a high grade or T-stage. If the cancer had spread to lymph nodes or other structures, such as nerves or vessels. In some cases, complete surgical removal of a tongue cancer may be impossible ...
How does chemotherapy help with colon cancer?
Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy for colon cancer is usually given after surgery if the cancer is larger or has spread to the lymph nodes. In this way, chemotherapy may kill any cancer cells that remain in the body and help reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.
What is the procedure to check for colon cancer?
Colonoscopy. During a colonoscopy , the doctor inserts a colonoscope into your rectum to check for abnormalities in your entire colon. If your signs and symptoms indicate that you could have colon cancer, your doctor may recommend one or more tests and procedures, including:
What tests are needed for colon cancer?
Staging helps determine what treatments are most appropriate for you. Staging tests may include imaging procedures such as abdominal, pelvic and chest CT scans.
What is the earliest stage of colon cancer?
At its earliest stage (stage 0), colon cancer is limited to the inner lining of your colon. As colon cancer progresses, it can grow through your colon and extend to nearby structures. The most advanced stage of colon cancer (stage IV) indicates cancer has spread to other areas of the body, such as the liver or lungs.
What does a doctor test for in blood?
Your doctor may also test your blood for a chemical sometimes produced by colon cancers (carcinoembryonic antigen, or CEA). Tracked over time, the level of CEA in your blood may help your doctor understand your prognosis and whether your cancer is responding to treatment.
How to tell what stage of colon cancer you have?
The stages of colon cancer are indicated by Roman numerals that range from 0 to IV, with the lowest stages indicating cancer that is limited to the lining of the inside of the colon.
What is the treatment for cancer?
Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a drug treatment that uses your immune system to fight cancer. Your body's disease-fighting immune system may not attack your cancer because the cancer cells produce proteins that blind the immune system cells from recognizing the cancer cells.
