Health

4 Different Types Of Cancer Treatment

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What are the different types of cancer treatment? Radiation therapy, biological response modifier therapy, also called immunotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery are some of the ways to treat cancer. Read on to learn more about each of these treatments.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. It is usually done during an outpatient procedure in a hospital or cancer treatment center. It is usually given over a period of several weeks. Sometimes, the patient receives treatment twice daily. Patients are not radioactive during this treatment, and do not need to take special precautions at home.

Radiation can help shrink tumors and can completely cure cancer in some cases. It is often combined with chemotherapy or surgery. It can also be used before surgery to shrink the tumor and reduce the risk of the cancer coming back. It can also help restore the function of a part of the body.

Although most patients tolerate radiation therapy well, it is possible to experience some side effects. These side effects usually affect a localized area. For example, breast cancer patients may experience soreness or skin rashes. Midsection cancer patients may experience pain in their chest or stomach. Most side effects are mild and temporary. The radiation oncology team can discuss any side effects and help patients manage them.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy works by damaging the cells that make up a cancerous tumor, killing them and preventing them from growing back. It is a very effective way of fighting cancer, as the cancer cells are killed and the tumor doesn’t spread. Chemotherapy is usually given in a series of sessions that last from four to six weeks. During these cycles, cytarabine is given in high doses to destroy the cancer cells.

Chemotherapy can be used alone or in combination with other treatments. It can shrink a tumor and destroy the cancer cells that are left over after a surgery, and it can prevent the cancer from recurring. It can also relieve symptoms and extend the life expectancy of patients with advanced cancer. The most common form of chemotherapy is systemic therapy, meaning it attacks cancer cells in almost all areas of the body.

Chemotherapy drugs are often given intravenously. This means that a doctor will insert a tube with a needle into a vein in the chest. However, some types of chemotherapy drugs can also be given as pills.

Surgery

The first step in the treatment of cancer is determining the exact size and location of the tumor. Your doctor will perform staging surgery to measure the size of the cancer and determine whether it has spread to other parts of the body. Staging surgery may involve the removal of a tumor and lymph nodes that are nearby. This procedure is known as lymphadenectomy. Lymph nodes are small bean-shaped organs that are often the first place where cancer spreads. Advanced imaging studies can help doctors do more precise staging.

Surgeons also use surgery to remove tissue to obtain a biopsy. These samples are analyzed under a microscope and can identify cancer cells. This information is used to stage the cancer and determine whether further treatment is necessary. A pathology report is an important part of the diagnosis and treatment process, and the surgeon will use it to plan the surgery.

Surgeons may also use surgery to treat the symptoms of cancer. Some surgeons use minimally invasive techniques to reduce the amount of tissue removed. This reduces the risk of side effects. In addition, they will repair damaged tissue and try to avoid damaging nearby organs. Palliative surgery can help relieve symptoms and relieve pressure caused by a tumor.

Immunotherapy

Researchers have recently found a way to harness the immune system to fight cancer cells. They can now produce large numbers of synthetic antibodies called monoclonal antibodies and give them to patients with cancer. These antibodies can attach to cancer cells’ antigens and kill them more effectively. In some cases, the antibodies can even carry a toxin, drug, or radioactive substance.

This type of immunotherapy is an alternative form of chemotherapy. It involves genetically engineering the immune cells of a patient to recognize cancer cells. This technique is called chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. It helps the immune system attack the cancer cells by stimulating the production of CAR T cells. Another form of immunotherapy involves the use of therapeutic cancer vaccines. These vaccines train the body’s immune system to identify cancer cells and to respond accordingly.

Immunotherapy can work with many types of cancer. Some types of cancer are more responsive to immunotherapy than others. It may work in combination with other forms of treatment or on its own. Patients may need to undergo several rounds of immunotherapy. However, the treatment is often effective for patients with certain types of cancer.