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METHODS OF TREATING
CANCER
These include
The doctor may use one or a combination
of the above methods to treat cancer. This would depend on type of cancer, location of
cancer, extent of spread and patient’s general health.
SURGERY
Surgery is a local treatment that removes
the tumor and any nearby tissue that is likely to contain cancer cells. During
surgery, doctors often remove lymph glands that are near to the tumor to see if they
contain cancer cells. If the patient presents early, cancers can be treated without major
surgery. Endoscopes(microscope/telescope) can be used. This type of surgery is known as
"Minimally Invasive Surgery" and has the advantage of no external cuts, minimal
bleeding during surgery and rapid recovery. Early breast cancers can be treated with
removal of the lump only and not the entire breast.
RADIOTHERAPY
In Radiation therapy, high-energy
radiations are used to damage cancer cells so they are unable to grow and multiply. The
two most common types of radiation are external radiation and implants. Most of the side
effects that occur, although unpleasant, are not permanent.
CHEMOTHERAPY
Treatment with anticancer drugs called
chemotherapy is used to destroy cancer cells by disrupting their ability to grow and
multiply. There are many different drugs given orally or by injections. Chemotherapy works
mainly on cancer cells, but it also affects other rapidly growing cells, like hair cells
and cells that line the digestive tract. As a result, patients may have side effects such
as hair loss, nausea and vomiting. Most anticancer drugs also affect the bone marrow,
decreasing its ability to produce blood cells and thus making patients more susceptible to
infection.
HORMONE THERAPY
Some of the cancer depends upon hormones for their
growth. The treatment for such tumors may include drugs to block the body’s
production of hormones or surgery to remove these hormone-producing organs.
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