What are the Types of Cancer Treatments?

There are many different kinds of cancer treatments. The various methods used for the treatment of cancer are going to depend on the kind of cancer you have and at what stage the cancer currently is.

Some people with cancer might need to have only one treatment. However, in most instances, people have a mix of treatments, for instance, surgery with radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

When you need cancer care treatment, you have a lot of stuff to learn and think about. It is very common to feel overwhelmed, dazed, and confused.

But, talking to the doctor and getting to know more about the types of cancer treatment you may have can help people feel more in control. At Main Street Medical we recommend going to the doctor before going for treatment. The doctor will devise a custom treatment plan based on your needs. The tests and treatments we do at Main Street Medical are also designed keeping in mind each individual case. 

Types of Cancer Treatment

There are many types of cancer treatment. Here, we have outlined some of them and explained them in detail.

Biomarker Testing for Cancer Treatment

This Biomarker testing is one method to look for proteins, genes and other substances (known as biomarkers or tumor markers). These can give us an update about the present severity of the cancer. Biomarker testing is something that will help you and your doctor pick the right kind of cancer treatment for you.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is perhaps the most widely known term when it comes to advanced cancer treatment. This is a type of cancer treatment that makes use of medication to eliminate cancer cells. Ask the doctor how chemotherapy works against cancer. The doctor can also explain why it causes side effects and, lastly, how it is used with different cancer treatments.

Hormone Therapy

One of the more popular kinds of treatment is hormone therapy. This is a treatment that slows or puts an end to the growth of breast and prostate cancers that use hormones to grow. Contact your doctor to learn about the types of hormone therapy and the side effects that might happen. This can have potential side effects and should not be taken lightly.

Immunotherapy

As part of its normal function, our immune system detects and kills abnormal cells and most often prevents or curbs the growth of many cancers. For example, immune cells are sometimes found in and around tumors. These cells, called the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes or TILs, are one sign that the immune system is reacting to the tumor. People whose tumors contain TILs often fare better than people whose tumors do not have them.

Even though the immune system can limit or slow cancer growth, cancer cells have the means to prevent destruction by the immune system. For example, cancer cells might:

• Have genetic changes that result in these losing visibility to the immune system.
• Have proteins on the surface that turn off immune cells.
• Change the normal cells in the vicinity of the tumor so they interfere with how the immune system reacts to the cancer cells.

Immunotherapy allows the immune system to better act against cancer.

Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy is based on a drug activated by light to eliminate cancer and various abnormal cells. Know more about how photodynamic therapy works, regarding the kinds of cancer and precancers it is good to treat, and the benefits and drawbacks of this treatment.

Targeted Therapy

One of the more focused kinds of treatment is targeted therapy. This is a kind of cancer treatment which aims to specifically target the changes in the cancer cells. It disrupts those that help them to divide, grow and spread. Like all other kinds of cancer treatment this one is also not one that is generic. It depends on a case-to-case basis and it is always best to talk to your doctor first before taking any step. 

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is a means of cancer treatment that uses concentrated doses of radiation to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. Ask your doctor about the types of radiation, the reason side effects happen, the side effects you might have, and more.

Stem Cell Transplant

Stem cell transplants are methods that restore stem cells which grow into blood cells in those who have had theirs destroyed by heavy doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. You can ask an expert about types of transplants, side effects that might occur. These will also vary on a case to basis. Also, how stem cell transplants are used for cancer treatment.

Hyperthermia

This is a type of treatment in which body tissue is heated to 113 °F to damage and destroy cancer cells with little or no harm to regular tissue. Ask your doctor about the types of cancer and precancers that hyperthermia is good for treating, how it is administered, and the benefits and drawbacks of using hyperthermia.

Surgery

This is a physical operation rather than one of applying medicine. When used to treat cancer, surgery is one method in which a surgeon cuts out cancer from your body.In order to know if this is the right procedure for you, consult a doctor. The need for surgery depends on a host of factors. 

Conclusion 

The right kind of cancer treatment is different for every case. At Main Street Medical, we also diagnose and devise unique treatments for a variety of health issues. If you or a loved one is suffering from cancer, the worst thing to do is to do nothing. It is imperative that you straight away go to a professional doctor to study your particular case. Then, the doctor will be in a position to come up with a custom cancer care plan for your particular case.