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Cancer Treatment Options
Treatment Options may include surgery,
radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy. We
have outlined each option below.
SURGERY
Surgery is the oldest form of treatment for cancer. Before the discovery
of anesthesia and antisepsis (methods such as sterilization of
instruments to prevent infection), surgery was performed with great
discomfort and risk to the patient. Today surgery offers the greatest
chance for cure for many types of cancer. About 60% of people with
cancer will have some type of surgery, or operation. Please see the
Surgery document for more information.
RADIATION THERAPY
Radiation therapy uses high-energy particles or waves, such as x-rays or
gamma rays, to destroy or damage cancer cells.
CHEMOTHERAPY
Chemotherapy is the use of medicines (drugs) to treat cancer. Systemic
chemotherapy uses anticancer drugs that are usually given into a vein or
by mouth. These drugs enter the bloodstream and reach all areas of the
body, making this treatment potentially useful for cancer that has
spread.
HORMONE THERAPY
Hormone Therapy is treatment with hormones, drugs that interfere with
hormone production or hormone action, or surgical removal of
hormone-producing glands to kill cancer cells or slow their growth.
IMMUNOTHERAPY
Immunotherapy is the use of treatments that promote or support the
body's immune system response to a disease such as cancer.
ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES
Unproven therapy is any therapy that has not been scientifically tested
and approved. Use of an unproven therapy instead of standard therapy is
called alternative therapy. Some alternative therapies have dangerous or
even life-threatening side effects. For others, the main danger is that
a patient may lose the opportunity to benefit from standard therapy.
Complementary therapy, on the other hand, refers to therapies used in
addition to standard therapy. Some complementary therapies may help
relieve certain symptoms of cancer, relieve side effects of standard
cancer therapy, or improve a patient's sense of well-being. The ACS
recommends that patients considering use of any alternative or
complementary therapy discuss this with their health care team.
Here are some questions to ask your Doctor about Treatment when
speaking with him/her:
Questions About Your Treatment
 Why
do I need this treatment ?
What
are the benefits?
What
are the risks?
Are
there any other possible treatment methods for my type of cancer?
What
is the standard care for my type of cancer?
How
many treatments will I be given?
Will
I be taking any drug (s) and, if so, which one (s) ?
How
will the drugs be given?
How
long will each treatment last?
Questions About Side Effects
What
are the possible side effects of this treatment?
When
are side effects likely to occur?
What
side effects are more likely to be related to my type of cancer?
Are
there any side effects that I should report right away?
What
can I do to relieve the side effects?
Questions About Contacting Medical Staff
How
do I contact a health professional after hours, on weekends and public
holidays, and when should I call ?
Hints for Talking with Your Doctor
These tips might help you remember the information you learn during
visits with your doctor:
Bring
a friend or family member to sit with you while you talk with your
doctor. This person can help you understand what your doctor says
during your visit and help remind you afterward.
Ask
your doctor for printed information that is available on your cancer and
treatment.
You,
or the person who goes with you, may want to take notes during your
appointment.
If
you don’t understand, ask the doctor to explain in simpler terms.
Ask
your doctor to slow down when you need more time to write.
You
may want to ask if you can use a tape recorder during your visit. That
way, you can review your conversation later as many times as you
wish.
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Copyright © 2006 Jamaica Cancer Society :: All Rights Reserved |
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