Modern methods of cancer treatment

Advances in medical science and extensive research have resulted in a relatively wide range of cancer treatments. Which one will be appropriate for a given patient depends primarily on the type of cancer, the stage of its development and nature – whether it uses, for example, hormones for growth. General health is also an important factor in selecting a therapy. The cancer treatments used nowadays are:

Surgery

Surgery is used in many cases and is best suited for the removal of compact tumors located in one area. It is not used in neoplasms with metastases. Sometimes surgery is a sufficient method, however, it is most often used along with other methods. Nowadays, the operation can be performed with the use of tools other than scalpels, e.g. lasers that emit a strong beam of radiation. Laser surgery is perfect for procedures that require special precision. The laser can also be used to shrink or destroy a tumor or change that could turn into cancer. They are most often used for procedures performed on the surface of the body or the inner lining of internal organs (e.g. the cervix).

Radiotherapy

It is a method of emitting high doses of radiation, which destroys or slows down the growth of cancer cells by damaging their DNA. Damage to the DNA of cancer cells makes them unable to regenerate, thus stopping their division, or they die entirely. They are then excreted from the body naturally. Radiation therapy has no immediate effect – it usually takes several days or weeks of treatment for cancer cells to be damaged enough to die. This process continues for several days after the end of therapy.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy can be taken in a variety of forms – pills, intravenously, intrathecally, and even as a topical cream. It not only kills rapidly reproducing cancer cells, but also interferes with the growth of healthy cells that naturally grow rapidly (e.g. hair cells). Therefore, people who use this therapy struggle with side effects such as fatigue, nausea, mouth ulcers, and hair loss, which usually stop when chemotherapy ends. However, during their duration, it is worth visiting a dietitian who will help you choose a diet that will ease them. Like all treatments, chemotherapy is also used with other treatments.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is classified as a biological therapy which means that it uses substances obtained from living organisms. Its main goal is to support the immune system responsible for fighting infections and other diseases. Its natural function is to detect and destroy abnormal cells. Moreover, it prevents or inhibits the development of many types of cancer. Immune cells include lymphocytes, which are sometimes found in and around tumors. Their presence is the immune system's response to the tumor. Cancer cells, however, have the ability to avoid the debilitating effects of immune cells. In such situations immunotherapy is used.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy is the basis of precision medicine that has been revolutionizing the healthcare world for several years. Its action focuses on a protein responsible for the growth, division and spread of cancer cells. These types of therapies typically take the form of small molecule drugs or monoclonal antibodies that are developed in laboratories to attach to specific targets on cancer cells. Some of them mark cancer cells, which make them more visible to the immune system, and hence are more effectively fought by it. Others carry toxins directly into cancer cells, and others stop the further growth of tumors.

Hormone therapy

This type of therapy is only used for cancers that use hormones to grow. Thanks to the application, the chance of regression, stopping or slowing down the development of cancer cells increases. It is most often used to treat prostate and breast cancer – in both cases, hormones are responsible for the development of the cancer. Hormone therapy is also used to relieve the symptoms of prostate cancer in inoperable cases. Interference with the endocrine system often causes the appearance of side effects, which can include heat flashes, fatigue, or nausea.

Stem cell transplant

This is a type of therapy that does not necessarily target cancer directly. For stem cell transplantation, stem cells obtained from the bone marrow, bloodstream or umbilical cord are used. They are given by the intravenously by a needle. Once in the bloodstream, the stem cells travel to the bone marrow to replace cells that have been destroyed during treatment. Stem cell transplants are usually used in patients struggling with leukemia or lymphoma.

New methods of cancer treatment

One of the greatest innovations in the field of oncological therapies is precision medicine, the development of which, thanks to the latest advances in science and technology, has been greatly accelerated in recent years. It requires an individual approach to each case and allows doctors to choose the method that will be most likely to be successful. That is why it is also called specific medicine. Choices are made on the basis of the cancer's genetics.