Cancer Treatment

Andrea JanešMentor: A. Žmegač Horvat

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Choice of Cancer Treatment Specific characteristics of cancer

Patient’s overall condition

Goals of treatment: cure keep from spreading relieve symptoms

Options Surgery Chemotherapy Radiation therapy Hormonal therapy Targeted therapy Biological therapy Personalized Cancer Care Clinical Trials Stem Cell Transplantation

SurgeryUsed to: diagnose cancer (eg. biopsy) determine its stage treat cancer (eg. resection)

Biopsy Curative surgery Cryosurgery Debulking surgery Electrosurgery Laser surgery Prophylactic surgery Palliative surgery Restorative or reconstructive surgery Staging surgery

Radiation therapy Local treatment High-energy rays May be externally or internally delivered Not useful in disseminated disease

External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) Via linear accelerators Delivered on an outpatient basis for

approximately 6 to 8 weeks Radiation from multiple directions Delivered specifically to an organ or

encompassing the surrounding area, including lymph nodes

Brachytherapy Radioactive material placed directly into or

near the cancer Additional boost of radiation or the only

type of radiation therapy Permanent or temporary

Chemotherapy Systemic treatment Single drugs or combinations of drugs Administered through a vein, injected into

a body cavity, or delivered orally in the form of a pill

Regimen/protocol

Adjuvant therapy Neo-adjuvant therapy Concurrent therapy

Side effects Alopecia Fibrosis Mucositis Myelosuppresion Nausea and vomiting Pneumonitis Xerostomia

Hormonal Therapy Reduces the amount of hormone

circulating in the body Blocks the hormone receptors on cancer

cell membrane Drugs and/or removal of organs that

secrete hormones

Targeted Therapy Drugs that target a specific pathway in the

growth and development of a tumor The targets are various molecules in the

body that are known or suspected to play a role in cancer formation

Biological Therapy Uses the body’s immune system to

facilitate the killing of cancer cells Interferon, interleukin, monoclonal

antibodies, colony stimulating factors (cytokines), and vaccines

Resources http://www.cancerconsultants.com/cancer-

treatment

http://www.oncolink.org/treatment/index.cfm