Cancer is treated with surgery, radiation therapy,
chemotherapy, hormone
therapy, or biological therapy. Patients with cancer are often
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
treatment method or a combination of methods. The choice of
treatment
depends on the type and location of the cancer, the stage of
the disease,
the patient's age and general health, and other factors.
Some cancer patients take part in a clinical trial (research
study)
using new treatment methods. Such studies are designed to
improve cancer
treatment.
Getting A Second Opinion
Before starting treatment, the patient may want another doctor
to review
the diagnosis and treatment plan. Some insurance companies
require a
second opinion; others may pay for a second opinion if the
patient
requests it. There are a number of ways to find specialists to
consult for
a second opinion.
The patient's doctor may suggest a specialist for a second
opinion.
The Cancer Information Service, at 1-800-4-CANCER, can tell
callers
about treatment facilities, including cancer centers and other
programs in
their area supported by the National Cancer Institute.
Patients can get the names of doctors from their local medical
society,
a nearby hospital, or a medical school.
Preparing For Treatment
Many people with cancer want to learn all they can about their
disease
and their treatment choices so they can take an active part in
decisions
about their medical care. Often, it helps to make a list of
questions to
ask the doctor. Patients may take notes or, with the doctor's
consent,
tape record the discussion. Some patients also find it helps to
have a
family member or friend with them when they talk with the
doctor, to take
part in the discussion, to take notes, or just to listen.
When a person is diagnosed with cancer, shock and stress are
natural
reactions. These feelings may make it difficult to think of
every question
to ask the doctor. Patients may find it hard to remember
everything the
doctor says. The should not feel they need to ask all their
questions or
remember all the answers at one time. They will have other
chances for the
doctor to explain things that are not clear and to ask for more
information.
Methods Of Treatment
Surgery - Surgery is local treatment to remove the tumor.
Tissue around
the tumor and nearby lymph nodes may also be removed during the
operation.
Radiation Therapy - In radiation therapy (also called
radiotherapy),
high-energy rays are used to damage cancer cells and stop them
from
growing and dividing. Like surgery, radiation therapy is a local
treatment; it affects cancer cells only in the treated area.
Radiation can
come from a machine (external radiation). It can also come from
an implant
(a small container of radioactive material) placed directly
into or near
the tumor (internal radiation). Some patients receive both
kinds of
radiation therapy.
External radiation therapy is usually given on an outpatient
basis in a
hospital or clinic 5 days a week for several weeks. Patients
are not
radioactive during or after the treatment.
For internal radiation therapy, the patient stays in the
hospital for a
few days. The implant may be temporary or permanent. Because
the level of
radiation is highest during the hospital stay, patients may not
be able to
have visitors or may have visitors only for a short time. Once
an implant
is removed, there is no radioactivity in the body. The amount
of radiation
in a permanent implant goes down to a safe level before the
patient leaves
the hospital.
Chemotherapy - Treatment with drugs to kill cancer cells is
called
chemotherapy. Most anticancer drugs are injected into a vein
(IV) or a
muscle. Some are given by mouth. Chemotherapy is systemic
treatment,
meaning that the drugs flow through the bloodstream to nearly
every part
of the body.
Often, patients who need many doses of IV chemotherapy receive
the drugs
through a catheter (a thin flexible tube). One end of the
catheter is
placed in a large vein in the chest. The other end is outside
the body or
attached to a small device just under the skin. Anticancer
drugs are given
through the catheter. This can make chemotherapy more
comfortable for the
patient. Patients and their families are shown how to care for
the
catheter and keep it clean. For some types of cancer, doctors
are studying
whether it helps to put anticancer drugs directly into the
affected area.
Chemotherapy is generally given in cycles: a treatment period
is
followed by a recovery period, then another treatment period,
and so on.
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 and the patient's general health, the patient may need to
stay in
the hospital for a short time.
Hormone Therapy - Some types of cancer, including most breast
and
prostate cancers, depend on hormones to grow. For this reason,
doctors may
recommend therapy that prevents cancer cells from getting or
using the
hormones they need. Sometimes, the patient has surgery to
remove organs
(such as the ovaries or testicles) that make the hormones. In
other cases,
the doctor uses drugs to stop hormone production or change the
way
hormones work. Like chemotherapy, hormone therapy is a systemic
treatment;
it affects cells throughout the body.
Biological Therapy - Biological therapy (also called
immunotherapy) is a
form of treatment that uses the body's natural ability (immune
system) to
fight infection and disease or to protect the body from some of
the side
effects of treatment. Monoclonal antibodies, interferon,
interleukin-2
(IL-2), and several types of colony-stimulating factors (CSF,
GM-CSF,
G-CSF) are forms of biological therapy.
There are many types of ovarian cancer, epithelial carcinoma is the most common. Women with a family history of ovarian cancer have an increased risk of developing the disease. Some ovarian cancer symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and abnormal vaginal bleeding, however, they usually do not present until the disease has progressed. Early diagnosis is important for successful treatment.
In the U.S., more than 2,000 people are diagnosed with bone cancer every year. There are many types of bone cancer. The most common forms of bone cancer are osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, fibrosarcoma, and chordoma. Pain is the most common symptom. Treatment usually involves surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Colon cancer is a malignancy that arises from the inner lining of the colon. Most, if not all, of these cancers develop from colonic polyps. Removal of these precancerous polyps can prevent colon cancer.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer
in humans. There are three main types of skin cancer; basal cell carcinoma and
squamous cell carcinoma (the nonmelanoma skin cancers), and melanoma.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is cancer of the lymphatic system, a vital part of the body's immune system. Symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, fever, night sweats, coughing, weakness, chest pain, unexplained weight loss, and abdominal pain. Treatment depends on which type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma you have, the stage of the cancer, your age, how fast the cancer is growing, and whether you have other health problems.
Cervical cancer is cancer of the entrance to the womb (uterus). Regular pelvic exams and Pap testing can detect precancerous changes in the cervix. Precancerous changes in the cervix may be treated with cryosurgery, cauterization, or laser surgery. The most common symptom of cancer of the cervix is abnormal bleeding.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the second most common cause of cancer death in women in the U.S. Symptoms include a lump in the breast or underarm area, nipple pain, change in breast size or shape, an inverted nipple, nipple discharge, and breast skin changes. Treatment may involve chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological therapy, hormone therapy, or surgery.
Treatment for bladder cancer depends on the stage of the disease, the grade of the tumor, and the type of bladder cancer. Options for treatment include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and biological therapy.
The term oral cancer includes cancer of the mouth (oral cavity) and the back of the mouth (oropharynx). Red and white patches inside the mouth, bleeding, loose teeth, pain upon swallowing, a lump in the neck, earache, and a sore on your lip or in your mouth that won't heal are all symptoms of oral cancer. Treatment for oral cancer depends upon the staging of the disease and usually involves surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
Multiple myeloma is a form of cancer that develops in plasma cells, the white blood cells that make antibodies. Symptoms include bone pain, weakness, extreme thirst, nausea, frequent urination, and broken bones. Treatment of multiple myeloma depends upon the staging and symptoms of the disease.
Hodgkin's disease is a cancer of the lymphatic system with symptoms that include unexplained, recurring fevers, unexplained weight loss, itchy skin, and painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, and groin. Treatment for adult Hodgkin's disease depends on the staging of the disease, the lymph nodes' size, and the health of the patient.
Prostate cancer is an uncontrolled (malignant) growth of cells in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is the second
leading cause of death of males in the U.S. Prostate cancer is often initially
suspected because of an abnormal PSA blood test or a hard nodule (lump) felt on
the prostate gland during a routine rectal examination.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Barrett's esophagus occurs as a complication of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), primarily in white males. GERD refers to the reflux of acidic fluid from the stomach into the esophagus (the swallowing tube), and is classically associated with heartburn.
Testicular cancer symptoms include a painless lump or swelling in a testicle, testicle or scrotum pain, a dull ache in the abdomen, back, or groin, and a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum. Treatment for cancer of the testicles depends on the type of cancer (seminoma or nonseminoma), the stage of the cancer, and the patient's age and health.
The breast generally refers to the chest, however, more specifically, to the mammary gland. The mammary gland is a milk producing gland comprised largely of fat. Within the mammary gland is a complex network of branching ducts. The ducts exit from sac-like structures called lobules, which can produce milk in females. The darkened area around the nipple is called the areola. Common medical concerns in regard to the breast include breast lumps, breast cysts, breast cancer, and breast infections.
Male breast cancer accounts for 1% of all breast cancers, and most cases are found in men between the ages of 60 and 70. A man's risk of developing breast cancer is one in 1,000. Signs and symptoms include a firm mass located below the nipple and skin changes around the nipple, including puckering, redness or scaling, retraction and ulceration of the nipple. Treatment depends upon staging and the health of the patient.
Vaginal cancer is fairly uncommon. There are two types of vaginal cancer: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Risk factors include being 60 or older, exposure to DES while in the womb, HPV infection, and having a history of abnormal cervical cells. Painful intercourse, pelvic pain, vaginal lumps, and abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge are all symptoms of vaginal cancer. Treatment depends upon the stage of the vaginal cancer and may involve surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and the use of radiosensitizers.
Lifestyle changes, a healthy antioxidant-rich diet, exercise, and weight reduction can help reduce a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. It's important to be aware of how risk factors such as family history, lifestyle factors, breast conditions, radiation therapy, and hormonal factors may influence your chances of developing breast cancer. Mammography and breast self-examinations are crucial steps in breast cancer prevention.
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