Cancer Treatment Options

 Surgery

• What it is: A procedure to remove the tumor and surrounding tissue.

• How it works: Surgeons physically remove cancerous growths. It’s often used for solid tumors that are localized and haven’t spread.

• When used: Early-stage cancers or to reduce tumor size before other treatments.

Chemotherapy

• What it is: The use of drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells.

• How it works: Chemotherapy drugs target rapidly dividing cells (a hallmark of cancer) but can also affect healthy cells, causing side effects.

• Radiation Therapy

• What it is: The use of high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells.

• How it works: Radiation damages the DNA of cancer cells, preventing them from growing and dividing. It’s targeted to specific areas.

• When used: For localized cancers or to reduce tumor size before surgery or after to kill remaining cells.

Immunotherapy

• What it is: Treatment that boosts the body’s immune system to fight cancer.

• How it works: It uses substances like checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cell therapy, or cytokines to help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.

• When used: For cancers that are hard to treat with other methods or have specific markers that respond to immunotherapy.

Targeted Therapy

• What it is: Drugs that target specific molecules involved in cancer growth.

• How it works: These drugs block signals that allow cancer cells to grow or survive. They are more precise than chemotherapy and often have fewer side effects.

• When used: For cancers with specific genetic mutations or biomarkers (e.g., HER2-positive breast cancer, EGFR-mutated lung cancer).

Hormone Therapy

• What it is: Treatment that blocks or lowers the levels of hormones that fuel certain cancers.

• How it works: It prevents hormones like estrogen or testosterone from binding to cancer cells, slowing their growth.

• When used: For hormone-sensitive cancers like breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Other Treatments

• Stem Cell Transplant: Replaces damaged bone marrow with healthy stem cells, often used for blood cancers like leukemia.

• Precision Medicine: Tailors treatment based on genetic profiling of the tumor.

• Palliative Care: Focuses on relieving symptoms and improving quality of life, often used alongside other treatments.