CANCER TREATMENT OPTIONS
It can be very frightening to be diagnosed with cancer. Fortunately, today there are many treatment options available. Your oncologist may suggest one or more of these therapies.
Anti-angiogenesis therapy – Like normal cells, tumors need a blood supply to survive. Anti-angiogenesis therapy prevents a tumor from making new blood vessels, so that it cannot grow larger.
Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy (or chemo) is a drug, or combination of drugs, that kills cancer cells. It can be taken orally, though the most common delivery method is through an IV injection. Chemo can be received in a hospital or outpatient setting. Your doctor may prescribe chemotherapy before or after surgery. Potential side effects include hair loss, fatigue, and damage to specific organs.
Radiation therapy – Radiation therapy, also called radiation oncology, destroys cancer cells with high-energy x-rays. It works best on cancer cells that are splitting very rapidly. It impairs a cancer cell’s DNA, so that it cannot grow or divide.
Immunotherapy – Immunotherapy strengthens the patient’s immune system. New antibodies are introduced to the patient’s system. They target cancer cells and destroy them.
Photodynamic therapy – In photodynamic therapy, patients are given a light-sensitive drug containing cancer-destroying substances. Light beams then activate the drug, which has been absorbed by cancer cells.
