Cancer Treatments If you have cancer, your doctor will recommend one or more treatments for the disease. The most common treatments are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Newer options include targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and hormonal laser therapy, among others. Here is a summary of the different cancer treatments and how they work.
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Operation
Surgery is a common treatment for many types of cancer. During surgery, the surgeon removes a mass of cancerous cells (tumor) and some of the surrounding tissue. Sometimes surgery is done to relieve side effects caused by the tumor.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy mentions to drugs used to kill cancer cells. Medicines can be given by mouth, injection, or directly into a blood vessel (intravenously). Different types of drugs can be administered at the same time or one after the other.
Radiotherapy
Radiation therapy uses X-rays, radioactive particles or seeds to kill cancer cells. This type of cell grows and divides faster than normal cells in the body. Since radiation is more harmful to rapidly growing cells, radiation therapy damages cancer cells more than normal cells. This prevents cancer cells from growing and dividing, which leads to their death.
The Two Main Types of Radiotherapy are:
External beam therapy. This is the most common way. In it, X-rays or particles are directed at the tumor from the outside.
Internal radiotherapy. This form provides radiation within his body. It can be administered by radioactive seeds which are placed in or near the tumour; liquid or tablets you swallow; or through a vein (intravenously or intravenously).
Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy uses drugs to stop the growth and spread of cancer. This goal is achieved by causing less damage to normal cells than other treatments.
Standard chemotherapy works by killing cancer cells and some normal cells. Targeted therapy focuses on specific targets (molecules) of cancer cells. These targets play a role in the growth and survival of cancer cells. By using these targets, the drug disables cancer cells so they cannot spread.
Targeted Therapies Work in Different Ways.
- Disable the process in cancer cells that causes them to grow and spread
- Kill cancer cells on their own
- kill cancer cells directly
- Targeted therapy is give a tablet or intravenously.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that depends on the body’s ability to fight infection (the immune system). This therapy uses substances produce by the body or in the laboratory to help the immune system work harder or focus on fighting cancer. This will help your body get rid of cancer cells.
Immunotherapy Works:
- Stop or slow the growth of cancer cells
- Prevent cancer from spreading to other parts of the body.
- Increase the ability of the immune system to kill cancer cells
These drugs are design to target and attack specific parts of the cancer cell. Some of them contain toxins or radioactive substances. Immunotherapy is carry out in the form of injections or intravenously.
Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy is use to treat cancers caused by hormones. And also such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, or ovarian cancer. This therapy uses drugs to shut down or block the body’s natural hormones. And also It helps slow the growth of cancer cells. And also The operation involves removing hormone-producing organs: the ovaries or the testicles. The drugs administer intravenously or in the form of tablets.
Hyperthermia
Hyperthermia uses heat to damage and destroy cancer cells without harming normal cells.
Can use for:
- A small area of cells. And also like a tumor.
- Parts of the body. And also such an organ or a limb.
- And also the whole body
- The heat is apply by a machine outside the body or by a needle or tube. And also that is insert into the tumor.
laser Therapy
Laser therapy uses a very narrow, focused beam of light to kill cancer cells.
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