Various Types of Cancer Treatments
Surgery:
A surgeon physically removes a tumor and surrounding tissues during surgery. Its main goals are to eliminate the cancer entirely if it is localized, shrink the tumor before receiving more therapies, or use palliative surgery to relieve symptoms in cases where the disease has progressed. Solid tumors, such those in the breast, colon, or lungs, are frequently treated with surgery. Developments in less invasive surgical methods, such as robotic and laparoscopic surgery, have increased accuracy and facilitated faster recovery periods.
b. Chemotherapy:
Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that use medications to destroy cancer cells that divide quickly. It is frequently used to treat spread-metastasized cancers, reduce tumors prior to radiation or surgery (neoadjuvant therapy), or eradicate cancer cells that remain after surgery (adjuvant therapy). Chemotherapy can be injected intravenously (IV), taken orally, or applied directly to the afflicted area. It may, however, result in adverse consequences like weariness, nausea, hair loss, and an elevated risk of infections because it also impacts healthy, rapidly proliferating cells.
c. Radiation Therapy:
High-energy radiation, such as X-rays, gamma rays, or charged particles, is used in radiation treatment to destroy cancer cells or reduce tumor size. It can be administered by brachytherapy, which involves putting radioactive materials inside the body close to the cancer, or external beam radiation therapy, which directs radiation from a machine outside the body. Radiation therapy is frequently used to decrease tumors before to surgery or to eradicate any cancer cells that remain after surgery. Its goal is to either destroy or inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Fatigue, skin abnormalities, and localized harm to healthy tissues close to the treatment region are possible side effects.
d. Targeted Therapy:
Drugs intended to specifically target molecules involved in the growth and survival of cancer cells are used in targeted therapy. Monoclonal antibodies like trastuzumab for HER2-positive breast cancer and tyrosine kinase inhibitors like imatinib for leukemia are two examples. Targeted therapy aims to minimize harm to healthy cells while preventing the growth and spread of cancer. It is frequently applied to malignancies that have been found to have genetic abnormalities. Even though it typically has fewer adverse effects than chemotherapy, it can nevertheless result in problems like fatigue, diarrhea, and skin problems.
e. Immunotherapy:
Immunotherapy strengthens the immune system's capacity to identify and eliminate cancerous cells. Important varieties include CAR-T cell therapy, which genetically alters a patient's immune cells to target cancer; checkpoint inhibitors, which block proteins that stop immune cells from attacking cancer; and cytokines, which boost the immune response and include interleukins and interferons. Lung cancer, lymphoma, and melanoma are among the cancers that are treated with immunotherapy. As the immune system becomes more active, side effects could include autoimmune responses, inflammation, and flu-like symptoms.
f. Hormone Therapy:
One type of cancer treatment is hormone therapy, which lowers or stops the hormone levels that cause some tumors, such prostate and breast cancers, to grow. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer and tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer are typical examples. Hormone-sensitive tumors can have their growth slowed or stopped by hormone therapy. Hot flashes, exhaustion, weight gain, and mood swings are possible side effects.
g. Combination Therapy:
To improve the results of cancer treatment, combination therapy combines many treatments, including radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. Targeting the cancer from many perspectives will increase the efficacy of each treatment and lower the chance of metastasis or recurrence, guaranteeing a more thorough approach to illness management.
h. Laser Therapy:
A focused, narrow beam of light is employed in laser therapy to kill cancer cells. In order to minimize discomfort, swelling, and tumor spread following surgery, it can be used to remove tumors, diminish obstructions in the stomach, colon, or esophagus, treat symptoms like bleeding, and seal nerve endings or lymph veins. Lasers can be applied to the skin, but they are often administered through a tiny, illuminated tube inserted within the body. For best effects, laser therapy is frequently used in conjunction with other therapies like chemotherapy and radiation.
i. Stem Cell Transplant:
A bone marrow transplant, commonly referred to as a stem cell transplant, uses healthy stem cells to replace bone marrow that has been injured or destroyed. Allogeneic transplants, which employ stem cells from a donor, and autologous transplants, which use the patient's own stem cells, are the two varieties. This medication makes high-dose chemotherapy or radiation therapy possible and is frequently used for blood malignancies such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Graft-versus-host disease and infection risk are possible side effects of allogeneic transplants.
j. Photodynamic Therapy:
A medication that is sensitive to a particular kind of light is given to a patient in photodynamic treatment. Compared to healthy cells, cancer cells retain this medication longer. The physician then targets the cancer cells with light from a laser or another source. The medication is activated by the light, changing it into a chemical that destroys the cancer cells.
k. Hyperthermia:
A treatment called hyperthermia uses heat to kill and destroy cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. It can be used on the entire body, on particular body components like an organ or limb, or on a limited area like a tumor. Either a machine outside the body or a needle or probe placed straight into the tumor are used to administer the heat.
l. Cryosurgery:
Cryosurgery, also referred to as cryotherapy, freezes and kills cancer cells using extremely cold gas. Precancerous cells, such those on the skin or cervix, are frequently treated with it. Using a specialized tool to apply cold directly to the affected location, cryotherapy can also be used for internal tumors, such as those in the liver or prostate.
