Cancer Treatment
Cancer care treatment is a broad term that encompasses various approaches to diagnosing, treating, and managing cancer. The type of treatment depends on the cancer type, stage, location, and individual patient factors such as age, overall health, and personal preferences.
Types of Cancer Treatments:
1. Surgery
- Purpose: Removes the tumor or cancerous tissue from the body.
- Types:
- Curative surgery (removal of the tumor)
- Palliative surgery (relieves symptoms)
- Reconstructive surgery (restores appearance or function)
2. Radiation Therapy
- Purpose: Uses high-energy radiation to kill or shrink cancer cells.
- Methods:
- External beam radiation
- Internal radiation (brachytherapy)
3. Chemotherapy
- Purpose: Uses drugs to destroy rapidly dividing cancer cells.
- Types:
- Intravenous (IV) chemotherapy
- Oral chemotherapy
- Side Effects: Nausea, hair loss, fatigue, immune suppression.
4. Targeted Therapy
- Purpose: Targets specific molecules involved in cancer growth and spread.
- Examples: Monoclonal antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
- Advantages: Less damage to normal cells compared to chemotherapy.
5. Immunotherapy
- Purpose: Boosts the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
- Examples: Immune checkpoint inhibitors, CAR T-cell therapy.
- Uses: Effective for some cancers like melanoma and lung cancer.
6. Hormone Therapy
- Purpose: Slows or stops hormone-driven cancer growth (e.g., breast or prostate cancer).
- Examples: Tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors.
7. Stem Cell Transplant
- Purpose: Replaces damaged bone marrow with healthy stem cells.
- Types: Autologous (using the patient's cells) and allogeneic (using donor cells).
8. Precision Medicine
- Purpose: Uses genetic testing to tailor treatments to a patient’s specific cancer.
- Examples: Biomarker testing to determine treatment options.
9. Palliative Care
- Purpose: Focuses on relieving symptoms and improving quality of life.
- Components: Pain management, psychological support, nutritional counseling.
