Treatments for Cancer
The general goal of treatment of cancer is to bring about a complete remission of the disease, in which there is no longer any sign of the cancer in the body. The prognosis for people with cancer varies greatly depending on the specific type of cancer, location and stage of advancement of the cancer, age of the patient, general health status, and other factors.
Treatment plans for cancer are individualized for each individual's specific case. Treatment varies depending on the type of cancer, the size of the tumor, its location, the stage of advancement, a patient's age and medical history, the presence of other sites of cancer in the body, and other factors.
Treatment for cancer is best planned and delivered by a team of specialists in cancer care. These specialists generally include medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, and registered nurses who specialize in cancer care.
Treatment of cancer may include surgery to remove all or part of the cancerous tumor. The amount of tumor removed varies depending on its size and location and other factors. In some cases, it may not be possible to remove any or any portion of a tumor because the cancer is too advanced and/or because surgical removal may affect healthy tissue and cause permanent damage or even death.
Treatment of cancer may also require radiation therapy. Radiation therapy can help to shrink a tumor and help ensure that any cancer cells that remain after surgery have been killed. Radiation therapy may also be used for people who cannot have their tumors removed. Chemotherapy is another common therapy for cancer. Chemotherapy uses antineoplastic drugs to kill cancer cells.
It may also be recommended that a person with cancer enroll in a clinical trial that is testing promising new therapies and treatments for cancer. Ensuring good nutrition and pain control and minimizing disability are also key elements of a multifaceted cancer treatment program.
Regular follow-up care is also a very important after treatment to help monitor a patient's treatment and progress and to address any problems or complications promptly.
For some people whose cancer has progressed to a very advanced stage, the goals of treatment may change. Treatment may shift away from curing the disease and focus on measures to keep a person comfortable and maximize the quality of life. This treatment is often administered through a hospice program.
The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Cancer includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.
· Treatments depend on the specific type of cancer but some types of treatments are common
· Combination therapy - different cancers respond to different combinations of the various treatments.
· Adjuvant therapy - getting additional chemotherapy, hormone, or other therapy after surgery or radiation.
· Neoadjuvant therapy - additional chemotherapy, hormone, or other therapy before surgery or radiation.
· Palliative management - Treatment of the symptoms of the cancer to keep the patient as comfortable and functional as possible where curative treatment is not possible or not chosen by the patient
Alternative Treatments for Cancer
Alternative treatments or home remedies that have been listed as possibly helpful for Cancer may include:
· Acerola berry
· Carrots
· Cauliflower
Cancer: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers
Products, offers and promotion categories available for Cancer:
Cancer: Research Doctors & Specialists
· Cancer Specialists:
Drugs and Medications used to treat Cancer:
Note:You must always seek professional medical advice about any prescription drug, OTC drug, medication, treatment or change in treatment plans.
· Abitrexate - used as part of combination therapy for various cancers
· Folex - used as part of combination therapy for various cancers
· Folex PFS - used as part of combination therapy for various cancers
· Mexate - used as part of combination therapy for various cancers
· Mexate AQ - used as part of combination therapy for various cancers
· Rheumatrex Dose Pack - used as part of combination therapy for various cancers
· Trexall - used as part of combination therapy for various cancers
· Gengraf
· Apo-Cyclosporine
· Rhoxal-Cyclosporine
Hospital statistics for Cancer:
· 133,482 admissions to private hospitals for procedures on chemotherapy and radiation oncology in Australia 2001-02 (AIHW National Hospital Morbidity Database, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
· 210,738 patient days spent in private hospitals were for chemotherapy and radiation oncology in Australia 2001-02 (AIHW National Hospital Morbidity Database, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
· 354,832 patient days spent in public hospitals for procedures in chemotherapy and radiation oncology in Australia 2001-02 (AIHW National Hospital Morbidity Database, Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW)
Hospitals & Medical Clinics: Cancer
Research quality ratings and patient incidents/safety measures for hospitals and medical facilities in specialties related to Cancer:
Choosing the Best Treatment Hospital: More general information, not necessarily in relation to Cancer, on hospital and medical facility performance and surgical care quality:
Medical news summaries about treatments for Cancer:
· Study shows oral contraceptives taken before menopause may reduce risk of cancer and heart disease
Cancer: NWHIC (Excerpt)
Cancer is treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or biological therapy. The doctor may use one method or a combination of methods. The choice of treatment depends on the type and location of the cancer, whether the disease has spread, the patient’s age and general health, and other factors. Many cancer patients take part in clinical trials (research studies) testing new treatment methods. Such studies are designed to improve cancer treatment. (Source: excerpt from Cancer: NWHIC)
Cancer Facts for People Over 50 -- Age Page -- Health Information: NIA (Excerpt)
There are a number of cancer treatments, including surgery, radiation therapy, chemo-therapy (anticancer drugs), and biological therapy (treatment that uses the body's natural ability to fight infection and disease). Patients with cancer often are treated by a team of specialists, which may include a medical oncologist (specialist in cancer treatment), a surgeon, a radiation oncologist (specialist in radiation therapy), and others. The doctors may decide to use one type of treatment alone or a combination of treatments. The choice of treatment depends on the type and location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, the patient's general health, and other factors. (Source: excerpt from Cancer Facts for People Over 50 -- Age Page -- Health Information: NIA)
What You Need To Know About Cancer -- An Overview: NCI (Excerpt)
Many people with cancer want to take an active part in decisions about their medical care. They want to learn all they can about their disease and their treatment choices. However, the shock and stress that people often feel after a diagnosis of cancer can make it hard for them to think of everything they want to ask the doctor. Often it is helpful to prepare a list of questions in advance. To help remember what the doctor says, patients may take notes or ask whether they may use a tape recorder. Some people also want to have a family member or friend with them when they talk to the doctor -- to take part in the discussion, to take notes, or just to listen.
These are some questions a patient may want to ask the doctor before treatment begins:
· What is my diagnosis?
· Is there any evidence the cancer has spread? What is the stage of the disease?
· What are my treatment choices? Which do you recommend for me? Why?
· What new treatments are being studied? Would a clinical trial be appropriate for me?
· What are the expected benefits of each kind of treatment?
· What are the risks and possible side effects of each treatment?
· Is infertility a side effect of cancer treatment? Can anything be done about it?
· What can I do to prepare for treatment?
· How often will I have treatments?
· How long will treatment last?
· Will I have to change my normal activities? If so, for how long?
· What is the treatment likely to cost?
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Patients do not need to ask all their questions or remember all the answers at one time. They will have many chances to ask the doctor to explain things and to get more information.
Methods of Treatment and Their Side Effects
Treatment for cancer can be either local or systemic . Local treatments affect cancer cells in the tumor and the area near it. Systemic treatments travel through the bloodstream, reaching cancer cells all over the body. Surgery and radiation therapy are types of local treatment. Chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and biological therapy are examples of systemic treatment.
It is hard to protect healthy cells from the harmful effects of cancer treatment. Because treatment does damage healthy cells and tissues, it often causes side effects. The side effects of cancer treatment depend mainly on the type and extent of the treatment. Also, the effects may not be the same for each person, and they may change for a person from one treatment to the next. A patient's reaction to treatment is closely monitored by physical exams, blood tests, and other tests. Doctors and nurses can explain the possible side effects of treatment, and they can suggest ways to reduce or eliminate problems that may occur during and after treatment.
Surgery is therapy to remove the cancer; the surgeon may also remove some of the surrounding tissue and lymph nodes near the tumor. Sometimes surgery is done on an outpatient basis, or the patient may have to stay in the hospital. This decision depends mainly on the type of surgery and the type of anesthesia .
The side effects of surgery depend on many factors, including the size and location of the tumor, the type of operation, and the patient's general health. Although patients are often uncomfortable during the first few days after surgery, this pain can be controlled with medicine. Patients should feel free to discuss ways of relieving pain with the doctor or nurse. (More information about pain control is in the "Pain Control " section.) It is also common for patients to feel tired or weak for a while after surgery. The length of time it takes to recover from an operation varies among patients.
Some patients have concerns that cancer will spread during surgery. This subject is discussed in the section on "Biopsy ."
Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. For some types of cancer, radiation therapy may be used instead of surgery as the primary treatment. Radiation therapy also may be given before surgery (neoadjuvant therapy ) to shrink a tumor so that it is easier to remove. In other cases, radiation therapy is given after surgery (adjuvant therapy ) to destroy any cancer cells that may remain in the area. Radiation also may be used alone, or along with other types of treatment, to relieve pain or other problems if the tumor cannot be removed.
Radiation therapy can be in either of two forms: external or internal . Some patients receive both.
External radiation comes from a machine that aims the rays at a specific area of the body. Most often, this treatment is given on an outpatient basis in a hospital or clinic. There is no radioactivity left in the body after the treatment.
With internal radiation (also called implant radiation, interstitial radiation, or brachytherapy ), the radiation comes from radioactive material that is sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters and placed directly in or near the tumor. Patients may stay in the hospital while the level of radiation is highest. They may not be able to have visitors during the hospital stay or may have visitors for only a short time. The implant may be permanent or temporary. The amount of radiation in a permanent implant goes down to a safe level before the person leaves the hospital. The doctor will advise the patient if any special precautions should be taken at home. With a temporary implant, there is no radioactivity left in the body after the implant is removed.
The side effects of radiation therapy depend on the treatment dose and the part of the body that is treated. Patients are likely to become extremely tired during radiation therapy, especially in the later weeks of treatment. Extra rest is often necessary, but doctors usually encourage patients to try to stay as active as they can between rest periods.
With external radiation, there may be permanent darkening or "bronzing" of the skin in the treated area. In addition, it is common to have temporary hair loss in the treated area and for the skin to become red, dry, tender, and itchy. Radiation therapy also may cause a decrease in the number of white blood cells , cells that help protect the body against infection.
Although radiation therapy can cause side effects, these can usually be treated or controlled. Most side effects are temporary, but some may be persistent or occur months to years later. The National Cancer Institute booklet Radiation Therapy and You has helpful information about radiation therapy and managing its side effects.
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. The doctor may use one drug or a combination of drugs. Chemotherapy may be the only kind of treatment a patient needs, or it may be combined with other forms of treatment. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy refers to drugs given before surgery to shrink a tumor; adjuvant chemotherapy refers to drugs given after surgery to help prevent the cancer from recurring. Chemotherapy also may be used (alone or along with other forms of treatment) to relieve symptoms of the disease.
Chemotherapy is usually given in cycles: a treatment period (one or more days when treatment is given) followed by a recovery period (several days or weeks), then another treatment period, and so on. Most anticancer drugs are given by injection into a vein (IV ); some are injected into a muscle or under the skin; and some are given by mouth.
Often, patients who need many doses of IV chemotherapy receive the drugs through a catheter (a thin, flexible tube) that stays in place until treatment is over. One end of the catheter is placed in a large vein in the arm or the chest; the other end remains outside the body. Anticancer drugs are given through the catheter. Patients who have catheters avoid the discomfort of having a needle inserted into a vein for each treatment. Patients and their families learn how to care for the catheter and keep it clean.
Sometimes the anticancer drugs are given in other ways. For example, in an approach called intraperitoneal chemotherapy , anticancer drugs are placed directly into the abdomen through a catheter. To reach cancer cells in the central nervous system (CNS), the patient may receive intrathecal chemotherapy . In this type of treatment, the anticancer drugs enter the cerebrospinal fluid through a needle placed in the spinal column or a device placed under the scalp.
Usually a patient has chemotherapy as an outpatient (at the hospital, at the doctor's office, or at home). However, depending on which drugs are given, the dose, how they are given, and the patient's general health, a short hospital stay may be needed.
The side effects of chemotherapy depend mainly on the drugs and the doses the patient receives. As with other types of treatment, side effects vary from person to person. Generally, anticancer drugs affect cells that divide rapidly. In addition to cancer cells, these include blood cells, which fight infection, help the blood to clot, and carry oxygen to all parts of the body. When blood cells are affected, patients are more likely to get infections, may bruise or bleed easily, and may feel unusually weak and very tired. Rapidly dividing cells in hair roots and cells that line the digestive tract may also be affected. As a result, side effects may include loss of hair, poor appetite, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, or mouth and lip sores.
Hair loss is a major concern for many people with cancer. Some anticancer drugs only cause the hair to thin, while others may result in the loss of all body hair. Patients may cope better if they prepare for hair loss before starting treatment (for example, by buying a wig or hat). Most side effects go away gradually during the recovery periods between treatments, and hair grows back after treatment is over.
Some anticancer drugs can cause long-term side effects such as loss of fertility (the ability to produce children). Loss of fertility may be temporary or permanent, depending on the drugs used and the patient's age and sex. For men, sperm banking before treatment may be an option. Women's menstrual periods may stop, and they may have hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Periods are more likely to return in young women. The National Cancer Institute booklet Chemotherapy and You has helpful information about chemotherapy and coping with side effects.
Hormone therapy is used against certain cancers that depend on hormones for their growth. Hormone therapy keeps cancer cells from getting or using the hormones they need. This treatment may include the use of drugs that stop the production of certain hormones or that change the way they work. Another type of hormone therapy is surgery to remove organs (such as the ovaries or testicles) that make hormones.
Hormone therapy can cause a number of side effects. Patients may feel tired, have fluid retention, weight gain, hot flashes, nausea and vomiting, changes in appetite, and, in some cases, blood clots. In women, hormone therapy may cause interrupted menstrual periods and vaginal dryness. Hormone therapy in women may also cause either a loss of or an increase in fertility; women taking hormone therapy should talk with their doctor about contraception during treatment. In men, hormone therapy may cause impotence , loss of sexual desire, or loss of fertility. Depending on the drug used, these changes may be temporary, long lasting, or permanent. Patients may want to talk with their doctor about these and other side effects.
Biological therapy (also called immunotherapy ) helps the body's natural ability (immune system ) to fight disease or protects the body from some of the side effects of cancer treatment. Monoclonal antibodies , interferon , interleukin-2 , and colony-stimulating factors are some types of biological therapy.
The side effects caused by biological therapy vary with the specific treatment. In general, these treatments tend to cause flu-like symptoms, such as chills, fever, muscle aches, weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Patients also may bleed or bruise easily, get a skin rash, or have swelling. These problems can be severe, but they go away after the treatment stops.
Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) or peripheral stem cell transplantation (PSCT) may also be used in cancer treatment. The transplant may be autologous (the person's own cells that were saved earlier), allogeneic (cells donated by another person), or syngeneic (cells donated by an identical twin). Both BMT and PSCT provide the patient with healthy stem cells (very immature cells that mature into blood cells). These replace stem cells that have been damaged or destroyed by very high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment.
Patients who have a BMT or PSCT face an increased risk of infection, bleeding, and other side effects due to the high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation they receive. The most common side effects associated with the transplant itself are nausea and vomiting during the transplant, and chills and fever during the first day or so. In addition, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) may occur in patients who receive bone marrow from a donor. In GVHD, the donated marrow (the graft) reacts against the patient's (the host's) tissues (most often the liver, the skin, and the digestive tract). GVHD can be mild or very severe. It can occur any time after the transplant (even years later). Drugs may be given to reduce the risk of GVHD and to treat the problem if it occurs.
Nutrition During Cancer Treatment
Eating well during cancer treatment means getting enough calories and protein to help prevent weight loss and maintain strength. Eating well often helps people feel better and have more energy.
Some people with cancer find it hard to eat because they lose their appetite. In addition, common side effects of treatment, such as nausea, vomiting, or mouth and lip sores, can make eating difficult. Often, foods taste different. Also, people being treated for cancer may not feel like eating when they are uncomfortable or tired.
Doctors, nurses, and dietitians can offer advice on how to get enough calories and protein during cancer treatment. Patients and their families can find many useful tips in the National Cancer Institute booklet Eating Hints for Cancer Patients.
Pain Control
Pain is a common problem for people with some types of cancer, especially when the cancer grows and presses against other organs and nerves. Pain may also be a side effect of treatment. However, pain can generally be relieved or reduced with prescription medicines or over-the-counter drugs as recommended by the doctor. Other ways to reduce pain, such as relaxation exercises, may also be useful. It is important for patients to report pain so that steps can be taken to help relieve it.
For additional information about pain control, people with cancer and their families may wish to refer to the materials listed in the "National Cancer Institute Booklets " section.
Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation is an important part of the overall cancer treatment process. The goal of rehabilitation is to improve a person's quality of life. The medical team, which may include doctors, nurses, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, or a social worker, develops a rehabilitation plan to meet each patient's physical and emotional needs, helping the patient return to normal activities as soon as possible.
Patients and their families may need to work with an occupational therapist to overcome any difficulty in eating, dressing, bathing, using the toilet, or other activities. Physical therapy may be needed to regain strength in muscles and to prevent stiffness and swelling. Physical therapy may also be necessary if an arm or leg is weak or paralyzed, or if a patient has trouble with balance.
Followup Care
It is important for people who have had cancer to continue to have examinations regularly after their treatment is over. Followup care ensures that any changes in health are identified, and if the cancer recurs , it can be treated as soon as possible. Checkups may include a careful physical exam, imaging procedures, endoscopy, or lab tests.
Between scheduled appointments, people who have had cancer should report any health problems to their doctor as soon as they appear. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Cancer -- An Overview: NCI)
This page was last modified on 15 January 2011 at 03:41.
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