What are the different types of cancer treatments?
Types of Cancer Treatment. Many procedures and drugs are available to treat cancer, with many more being studied. Some are "local" treatments like surgery and radiation therapy , which are used to treat a specific tumor or area of the body.
What is systemic treatment for cancer?
Drug treatments (such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy) are often called "systemic" treatments because they can affect the entire body. Learn about the most common types of treatment for cancer here. Surgery.
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 are the different types of cancer treatments?
The most common types of cancer treatment include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. These therapies may be used either alone or in combination with other therapies. More recent treatment options include targeted therapies and biologic treatments. The first treatment that a person is given is called first-line therapy. Adjuvant therapy is treatment that is given after the first treatment (such as chemotherapy after surgery.) Neoadjuvant therapy is treatment that is given before the primary treatment (such as hormone therapy before surgery.) Most experimental therapies are tested in clinical trials.
What is targeted cancer therapy?
Targeted cancer therapies use drugs that block the growth and spread of cancer. They interfere with specific molecules involved in carcinogenesis (the process by which normal cells become cancer cells) and tumor growth. Because scientists call these molecules “molecular targets,” these therapies are sometimes called “molecular-targeted drugs,” “molecularly targeted therapies,” or other similar names. By focusing on molecular and cellular changes that are specific to cancer, targeted cancer therapies may be more effective than current treatments and less harmful to normal cells.
How does chemotherapy work?
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs fight cancer by interfering with the growth process of cancer cells, eventually causing the cells to die. Chemotherapy is used to shrink or eliminate the tumor, keep the tumor from spreading, destroy any cancer cells that have spread to other areas in the body, or relieve symptoms. Chemotherapy is called a systemic treatment, because it affects the entire body.
How long does radiation therapy last?
During external beam radiation therapy, a beam of radiation is directed through the skin to the cancer and the immediate surrounding area in order to destroy the main tumor and any nearby cancer cells. To minimize side effects , the treatments are typically given five days a week, Monday through Friday, for a number of weeks. This allows doctors to get enough radiation into the body to kill the cancer while giving healthy cells time each day to recover.
What is brachytherapy in cancer?
Brachytherapy is the placement of radioactive sources in or just next to a tumor. The word brachytherapy comes from the Greek “brachy” meaning short distance. During brachytherapy, the radioactive sources may be left in place permanently or only temporarily, depending upon your cancer. To position the sources accurately, special catheters or applicators are used.
What is the purpose of radiation therapy?
Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, is the use of various forms of radiation to safely and effectively treat cancer and other diseases. Radiation oncologists may use radiation to cure cancer, to control the growth of the cancer or to relieve symptoms, such as pain.
What is biological therapy?
Biological therapy is a type of treatment that works with your immune system. It can help fight cancer or help control side effects (how your body reacts to the drugs you are taking) from other cancer treatments like chemotherapy.
What is the most common cancer treatment?
Any cancer treatment can be used as a primary treatment, but the most common primary cancer treatment for the most common types of cancer is surgery. If your cancer is particularly sensitive to radiation therapy or chemotherapy, you may receive one of those therapies as your primary treatment. Adjuvant treatment.
Why is cancer treated?
Why it's done. The goal of cancer treatment is to achieve a cure for your cancer, allowing you to live a normal life span. This may or may not be possible, depending on your specific situation. If a cure isn't possible, your treatments may be used to shrink your cancer or slow the growth of your cancer to allow you to live symptom free ...
How does the immune system fight cancer?
Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy , also known as biological therapy, uses your body's immune system to fight cancer. Cancer can survive unchecked in your body because your immune system doesn't recognize it as an intruder. Immunotherapy can help your immune system "see" the cancer and attack it. Hormone therapy.
What causes cancer to stop growing?
Examples include breast cancer and prostate cancer. Removing those hormones from the body or blocking their effects may cause the cancer cells to stop growing. Targeted drug therapy.
What is adjuvant therapy?
Adjuvant treatment. The goal of adjuvant therapy is to kill any cancer cells that may remain after primary treatment in order to reduce the chance that the cancer will recur. Any cancer treatment can be used as an adjuvant therapy. Common adjuvant therapies include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and hormone therapy.
What are the different types of cancer treatments?
Common Types of Cancer Treatment 1 Surgery: An operation where doctors cut out tissue with cancer cells. 2 Chemotherapy: Special medicines that shrink or kill cancer cells. 3 Radiation therapy: Using high-energy rays (similar to X-rays) to kill cancer cells. 4 Hormone therapy: Blocks cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow. 5 Immunotherapy: A treatment that works with your body’s immune system to help it fight cancer cells or to control side effects from other cancer treatments. 6 Stem cell transplant (bone marrow transplant): Replace bone marrow cells lost due to very high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Most commonly used to treat blood cancers and cancers in lymph nodes.
What is the treatment for cancer?
Radiation therapy: Using high-energy rays (similar to X-rays) to kill cancer cells. Hormone therapy: Blocks cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow. Immunotherapy: A treatment that works with your body’s immune system to help it fight cancer cells or to control side effects from other cancer treatments.
What is the goal of cancer treatment?
Sometimes, treatment is meant to cure the cancer. Other times, the goal is to stop the cancer from spreading further. Some treatments may be given to reduce side effects ...
What can a doctor explain about cancer?
Your doctor can explain the risks and benefits of each treatment, and their side effects. The National Cancer Institute provides lists of questions to ask your doctor about your diagnosis. external icon. and treatment. external icon.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is treatment with drugs. Chemotherapy is used alone or combined with surgery and/or radiotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs (also called cytotoxic drugs) injure or kill body cells. Chemotherapy attacks cancer cells but will also affect some normal cells and this causes side effects.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is the use of high energy radiation, usually x-rays or gamma rays, to kill cancer cells or injure them so they cannot grow and multiply. Radiotherapy is used alone, or with chemotherapy and/or surgery. Radiotherapy is painless and usually takes a few minutes each time. Radiotherapy is usually given each day, over 4 – 6 weeks.
Surgery
Many children with cancer will have surgery during their treatment. Surgery is used to biopsy a suspicious mass or lump at diagnosis, stage a disease, insert a central line, remove and / or debulk (reduce the size of) a tumour. Surgery may be an important part of the treatment for children with solid tumours or brain tumours.
Oral medications
It is a good idea for you to help to give your child’s medicines in hospital. It may make medicine-taking easier if your child needs to continue treatment at home. Many children don’t like taking any sort of medicine.
Types of cancer treatments
The information below is based on information originally published by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the US government’s main agency for cancer research. You can use it to learn about treatments and help you make treatment decisions with your doctor.
What is combination therapy?
Combination therapy is when doctors use 2 or more kinds of cancer treatments. The treatments may be given at the same time, one after the other, or in different ways, depending on what your doctor thinks is best. For example, your doctor may recommend targeted therapy and chemotherapy at the same time.
Your doctor may recommend a clinical trial for you
Clinical trials are research studies that involve people. Through clinical trials, doctors find new ways to improve treatments and the quality of life for people with disease.
What are the treatments for cancer?
If you have cancer, your doctor will recommend one or more ways to treat the disease. The most common treatments are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Other options include targeted therapy, immunotherapy, laser, hormonal therapy, and others. Here is an overview of the different treatments for cancer and how they work.
What is the term for the treatment of cancer cells?
Chemotherapy . Chemotherapy refers to drugs used to kill cancer cells. The drugs may be given by mouth or into a blood vessel (IV). Different types of drugs may be given together at the same time or one after the other.
Why does radiation kill cancer cells?
Cancer cells grow and divide faster than normal cells in the body. Because radiation is most harmful to quickly growing cells, radiation therapy damages cancer cells more than normal cells. This prevents the cancer cells from growing and dividing, and leads to cell death. The two main types of radiation therapy are: External beam.
What is cryotherapy used for?
It is sometimes used to treat cells that might turn into cancer (called pre-cancerous cells) on the skin or cervix, for example. Doctors can also use a special instrument to deliver cryotherapy to tumors inside the body, such as the liver or prostate.
How to treat cancer with laser?
Seal lymph vessels after surgery to reduce swelling and keep tumor cells from spreading. Laser therapy is often given through a thin, lighted tube that is put inside the body.
What is the purpose of lasers in cancer treatment?
Lasers are also used on the skin. Lasers are most often used with other types of cancer treatment such as radiation and chemotherapy .
What is laser therapy?
Laser therapy uses a very narrow, focused beam of light to destroy cancer cells. Laser therapy can be used to: Destroy tumors and precancerous growths. Shrink tumors that are blocking the stomach, colon, or esophagus. Help treat cancer symptoms, such as bleeding.