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Types of Cancer Therapy



By Christiene from Raleigh, NC on January 30, 2006
Category: Cancer Therapies


<span>CANCER THERAPY</span>

<span>Cancer</span> is an enigma of unparalleled proportions. It does not respect creed, sex or religion. It has challenged the brightest minds in science and rendered many a research mere guesswork. But today, scientific advances have proven, by leaps and bounds, that this malady can be defeated. It can be controlled. In fact, there are cases where lives have been saved and those who suffered from it, at one time, are now leading normal lives. Of course, there were those who did not survive, but the success ratio is improving; the battle is halfway won. Soon, cancer will no longer be man’s nemesis but his feat.

There are cancers which are incurable but this never means they cannot be treated. Incurability only applies to the disease itself but treatment encompasses a broader scope. Treatment includes care of the emotional needs of the patient, his nutrition, psychiatric support and social acceptance. The patient should never feel alienated by reason of his ailment. Also, if particular clinical procedures fail, the patient should understand why.

Battling cancer is a long and tedious process; the result uncertain. Despite of this, the patient must know that his cause is being fought by many.

<span>HOW EXACTLY DO WE MANAGE CANCER?</span>

<span>Early diagnosis </span>is still our best defense. When the body is still strong and cancer cells have not yet proliferated in other areas, then our chance for survival is still high. We can always refer to medical guides as to the general symptoms of cancer or consult our physician for a thorough physical examination to identify these symptoms.

Successful cancer therapy requires that all cancer cells are absolutely eliminated from its focal point, from the neighboring areas in the body, and if in its metastatic phase, from other regions. There are many modes of cancer therapy available today and it is best to fully understand each one.


<span>MAJOR MODES OF CANCER THERAPY</span>

For local cancers, surgery and radiotherapy are still the best options. Chemotherapy applies for systemic cancers while endocrine therapy is for specific cancers.

Other modalities include Immunotherapy and Thermotherapy.

Multimodality refers to a combination of all or most of these therapies.


<span>EACH MODE OF THERAPY DESCRIBED</span>

<span>Surgery. </span> A surgery is performed on the localized tumor. The purpose of this therapy is to localize the spread of cancer cells and inhibit transmission to other local areas. There are types of cancer where curative surgery may apply: cancers of the breast, cervix, bladder, colon, larynx, endometrium, neck, head, kidney, lung, ovaries and the testes.

In cases where surgery is not possible, <span>Multimodality Therapy </span>is introduced. Either a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy or chemo and radiotherapy, this type may diminish the size of the tumor thus making resection surgery easy.

<span>Radiotherapy.</span> This type of therapy necessitates the tumor to be confined within the area. Radiation is applied to the affected region by the use of a beam that penetrates the tissue. Another procedure is to embed radioactive component into the tumor itself, thus supplying a massive dose of radioactive element in that specific area.

The desired effect of radiation is to damage the cancerous cell beyond its ability to heal itself. The purpose of radiation is only to manage and alleviate symptoms even when cure is not in sight. When symptoms are put on hold, even for a while, the individual gets to resume his normal activities.

Radiotherapy, when combined with other modes, has a higher percentage of cure. Combined with Chemo and Surgery, it works best on cancers of the rectum, lung, breast and the esophagus. For uterine cancer, surgery should be performed with radiotherapy as well.

<span>Chemotherapy.</span> It refers to a type of therapy using chemical agents.

The drug aims to eliminate only cancer cells without releasing toxins on normal cells and thus destroying them. Unfortunately, chemo drugs available in the market today have established cases of toxicity in normal cells. It has however, registered a higher cure rate than other modes, even with its initial regimen alone.

The only drawback is the failure of some chemotherapeutic drugs to act successfully when administered inside the human body, even when its efficacy has been registered in a clinical environment.
Drug resistance is caused by some genes that prohibit certain drugs to inhabit in cancer cells of the patient. Efforts to avert this have failed.

<span>Endocrine Therapy. </span> This type of therapy offers only palliative remedies, not cure. Hormones are administered to patients in order to retard cancer cell growth. Types of cancers that have hormone receivers such as prostate, ovarian, breast and uterine cancers can benefit from this type of therapy.

<span>Immunotherapy.</span> This mode of therapy utilizes proteins which act on the immune responses of the body. When these get fused in the immune system, they serve as protective coats against viruses that may attack the cells of the immune system.

<span>Hyperthermia and Cryotherapy. </span>Heating the tumor mass (hyperthermia) with the aid of radiation or drugs have not proven effective. Cryotherapy on the other hand, involves insertion of a probe into the tumor mass for palliative results.

<span>Multimodality and Adjuvant Therapy. </span> To improve success rate in the treatment of cancer, a combination of multiple therapies have been used. Surgery may combine with radiation to localize cancer cells and chemotherapy may be administered to terminate cancer cells outside of the radiation field.


<span>BE FAMILIAR WITH TERMINOLOGIES

</span>For both the patient and his or her loved ones, understanding clinical terms commonly used in the field of cancer research and administration can be very helpful. Being correctly and fully informed is certainly a factor of cancer therapy’s success rate.



  • “<span>Absolute remission</span>” is the total and absolute disappearance of disease including neoplastic cells that may initiate a relapse;

  • “<span>Partial response</span>” is a diminution in the size of a tumor, about half its size. This may be a good sign of survival. However, it is possible that the tumor may grow back to its former size.

  • “Free-disease” interval / survival refers to the gap between eradication of cancer and its reoccurrence;

  • “<span>Response duration</span>” is the gap between the partial response and disease progression

  • “<span>Survival</span>” is the lead time from the discovery of the disease to death.



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