There are four standard methods of cancer treatment: surgery,
chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy and biological therapy. 4 In
addition to the above method, also known as alternative medicine that most do
not get approval from medical institutions both nationally and internationally
such as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).
When you are diagnosed with cancer, cancer specialists, oncologists, will explain and give some cancer treatment options. Your doctor will recommend the best treatment plan based on the type of cancer, how far the cancer has spread, and other important factors such as age and general health.
Ultimately, you are the people who make decisions based on the doctor's recommendation. You can also seek the opinion of other oncology specialists to obtain more complete information about the disease you are suffering, this is known as a second opinion.
Methods of Cancer Treatment
Surgery:
Surgery can be used to prevent, treat, staging (to determine how the cancer
stage), and diagnosing cancer. With
respect to cancer treatment, surgery
is performed to remove tumors or cancerous tissue as possible. This is often
done in conjunction with chemotherapy or radiation.
For those whose cancer is not treatable, palliative surgery may be an option for pain relief that may be caused by cancer. Palliative surgery is not intended to treat or cure cancer, or even to prolong life, but rather to reduce the discomfort.
For those whose cancer is not treatable, palliative surgery may be an option for pain relief that may be caused by cancer. Palliative surgery is not intended to treat or cure cancer, or even to prolong life, but rather to reduce the discomfort.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to eliminate cancer cells. Unlike surgery, chemotherapy affects the entire body, not just certain parts. Chemotherapy works by major targets in cancer cells that divide very quickly. Unfortunately, the types of cells in our body that divide there is also very high, such as hair follicle cells and the cells contained in the stomach. This is why chemotherapy can cause side effects such as hair loss and nausea.
Chemotherapy is generally administered via the peroral (oral) or intravenously (IV), but can also be given in other ways. Chemotherapy can be a single, or a combination of several drugs and are given for a specified period. As with any surgery, chemotherapy can be administered alone, in combination with radiation therapy or in combination with biological therapy.
Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy uses certain types of energy to shrink tumors or eliminate cancer cells. Radiation therapy works by damaging the DNA of cancer cells, making it unable to develop. Cancer cells are very sensitive to radiation and the cell will die normally after radiation therapy. Nearby healthy cells can also be damaged, but has the ability to quickly recover.
Radiation therapy can be administered alone, along with chemotherapy, and / or by surgery. The decision to combine radiation therapy with other types of treatment depending on the stage of cancer and other factors.
Biological or Targeted Therapy: Biological Therapy is a term for drugs that target cancer-related characteristics. Several mechanisms of targeted therapies work is by blocking the process of tumor biology that allows tumors to grow and grow. Another mechanism is by cutting off blood supply to the tumor, causing tumor starvation and death from lack of blood.
Targeted therapy is used on certain types of cancer only and is not suitable for everyone. Because, basically, the characteristics of cancer is not the same in all people despite having the same type of cancer.