How is Cancer Treated?

Three basic options have been established for the treatment of cancer: surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Each is described below. When two treatments are used together, it is called "combined modality therapy."

Surgery

Surgery treats localized tumors. That means it is a good option if the tumor has not spread and if it's location will allow it to be removed without causing major functional problems in the body. If the tumor has spread or it is located near a vital organ, surgery may not be an option.

Two surgical approaches are used. Sometimes the tumor is removed immediately following a diagnostic biopsy while the patient is still under anesthesia. Other times, surgery is performed to examine the tumor in order to gather cells for the biopsy. If the biopsy shows cancer, the physician, the patient and their family can discuss the best approach to care. This could mean further surgery or another treatment option.

Radiation

The purpose of radiation is to maketumors shrink or disappear. This is accomplished by damaging the genetic structure of the tumor cells using high-energy beams, so they can't grow or divide. Patients experience no pain or discomfort during the actual radiation treatment, which usually only takes a few minutes. Radiation focuses in on specific sites in the body. It may be the only treatment needed, or it may be used along with other kinds of therapy.

Chemotherapy

This treatment uses special medication (anti-cancer chemicals) taken by mouth or administered through the patient's veins. These chemicals have a particular and toxic effect on cells as they grow and divide which causes cell death and therefore stops the tumor from growing or spreading. Chemotherapy is used in a variety of ways: to cure specific types of cancer, slow tumor growth, relieve pain, shrink tumors before or after surgery and destroy or slow growth of tumors that have traveled to other parts of the body (metastases).

In addition to surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, other treatment options are available that may be right for you and your type of cancer.

Biological Therapy

This therapy is a relatively new treatment that uses the body's immune system to combat growing cancer cells. The immune system consists of white blood cells (lymphocytes) that act as a defense against foreign organisms such as bacteria and viruses and possibly cancer cells. Complex substances that regulate cell growth may be produced in a laboratory or in the body to stimulate the immune system to help it fight the cancer cells.

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are cancer treatments or research studies that test new treatments for people with cancer. These trials are designed to improve current treatments or compare treatments. Each clinical trial has a protocol that explains how it will work. A board of professionals (such as the National Cancer Institute) consisting of clergy and health professionals reviews the protocol to assure that the research will not expose patients to excessive or unethical risks. Each protocol must be approved by the organization that sponsors the study. Eligibility for a clinical trial differs for each study depending on the purpose of the research. For more information on clinical trials, ask your physician.