5 Different Cancer Treatments You Need to Know About

According to The International Agency for Research on Cancer, it is estimated that one in five people globally could develop cancer during their lifetime. Today, the health sector is equipped to provide several different types of cancer treatment.

The objective of these cancer treatments also differ. The main aim would be to cure cancer, but in the case of advanced cancer, doctors use these treatments to manage pain symptoms and improve the patient’s quality of life. 

Depending on the type of cancer, one might receive a single treatment or a combination of multiple treatments. Therefore, the article will have different treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone and radiotherapy explained. 

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy can treat various types of cancer. It could cure and reduce the chances of cancer returning. The treatment can also help slow or stop the growth of cancerous cells. 

Some common ways patients can receive chemotherapy are oral, IV, injection, or topical means. Depending on your condition, you might have to stay at the hospital or receive the treatment as an outpatient. 

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy uses high energy rays to destroy the DNA in cells. This therapy works as cancerous cells cannot repair the damage done by these rays; they will be killed and stopped from multiplying. On the other hand, healthy cells can recover better when exposed to radiation.

The two ways radiotherapy can be delivered are external beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy. When used with other procedures, the treatment can help patients be free of cancer. The treatment could also help shrink tumours and provide relief from pain. 

Along with this, discuss the treatment plan in detail with your doctor as it is one of the non-invasive treatments with minimal side effects.   

Immunotherapy

Your body’s immune system is responsible for fighting off viruses, infections, and other diseases. Immunotherapy helps your immune system fight off cancer better. 

The different types of immunotherapy used to treat cancer are immune check inhibitors, T-cell transfer therapy and immune system modulators, among others. The standard way of delivering this treatment is orally or directly through a vein.

Hormone Therapy

Hormone therapy can destroy cancerous cells, shrink the size of the tumour before another treatment like radiation or surgery or lessen the risk of cancer returning.

The treatment aims to stop or slow the growth of cancer cells that use hormones to grow. Oral, injection, and surgery are three ways through which a patient can receive hormone therapy. 

Surgery

Surgery is a treatment in which a surgeon will remove cancer from your body. The treatment works best when the tumour is localized to one area. Depending on the stage of cancer, the surgeon can perform open surgery or minimallyinvasive surgery using a laparoscope. 

Surgery could help remove the entire localized tumour or help reduce the size of the tumour.

Wrapping Up

The choice of treatment significantly depends on the current condition of cancer. The decision is understandably overwhelming to make. Still, with treatments like surgery, chemo, hormone, immune, and radiotherapy, you will be in a better position to discuss with your doctor.