A-List of Types of Cancer Treatment

Women against breast cancer

A-List of Types of Cancer Treatment

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  • January 23, 2022
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There are numerous types of cancer therapy options available to patients. Different types of cancer therapy will be given to you depending on the type of cancer and how far it has progressed. Depending on the type of cancer, some people may only need one round of treatment. In contrast, the vast majority of patients receive a combination of treatments, such as:

Biomarker tests

These tests are done to determine whether a person will respond to specific cancer treatments or not. Types of biomarkers that are tested include proteins, genetic markers, and enzymes. Biomarkers also include the HER2 protein marker, which is found in some breast tumors.

Any treatment can be tailored after considering the results of this test. For example, if the result shows that a specific type of treatment is likely to work on a patient’s tumor, it will be used accordingly. But suppose the result indicates that a particular treatment is unlikely to work in a specific patient and their tumor. In that case, other types of treatment will be decided upon instead.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy involves using chemicals or drugs to kill cancer cells. Types of chemicals used in chemotherapies include anti-angiogenic, antimetabolite, and anti-tumor agents. Types of drugs that may treat breast cancer include aromatase inhibitors and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERM). Chemotherapy has many side effects, including nausea, vomiting, weakness, loss of appetite, sleep problems, fatigue, and diarrhea.

Hormone therapy

Also known as endocrine therapy or hormonal therapy is a type of treatment for some types of cancer, such as breast cancer which requires hormones to grow. Types of hormone treatments available include:

  • Oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries) in cases where patients do not wish to have children.
  • Mastectomy (removal of the breasts).
  • Aromatase inhibitors.
  • SERMs.

Hyperthermia

This type of cancer treatment uses heat to kill cancer cells. Types of hyperthermia treatments include microwave therapy, radiofrequency ablation, and thermotherapy. Types of cancer treated with this method include soft tissue sarcoma, which usually affects people below 50 years of age, ovarian cancer, and prostate cancer in men above 40 years of age.

Photodynamic Therapy

Also known as PDT or light-activated drug therapy, it is a type of treatment that involves using drugs such as 5-ALA, which will attach itself to abnormal blood vessels only when activated by light from lasers or other sources. Types of cancer that can be treated with this method include bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer, and skin cancer.

Radiation Therapy

This type of treatment uses radiation to kill or damage cells in the body. Types of radiation treatments used for various cancers include:

  • External beam radiation therapy.
  • Brachytherapy (delivery of radiation through the internal implant).
  • Internal radiotherapy (using radioactive materials).

Types of cancers treatable using this method are brain tumors, endometrial cancer, leukemia, melanoma, prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, cervical cancer, and ovarian cancer.

Surgery

This is one form of treatment where parts removed from your body are checked for any signs of disease. Types of surgeries performed may include lumpectomy, mastectomy, and resections. Treatment types of cancer treated using surgery include esophageal, kidney, lung, ovarian, prostate, and skin carcinoma.

Stem Cell Transplant

A type of treatment in which stem cells are transplanted into the body. Types of cancer that can be treated thru this method include lymphomas, multiple myeloma, leukemia, and other blood disorders. This procedure uses high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy to kill off the diseased cells in the bone marrow before healthy stem cells are transplanted back into your body. Using this method, types of diseases treatable include anemia, autoimmune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), Fanconi anemia, and sickle cell anemia. Types of sensitizing chemo-drugs include busulfan, chlorambucil, fludarabine, melphalan, and thiotepa. The types of stem cells used in this cancer treatment are cord blood and embryonic stem cells.

This is one form of treatment where parts removed from your body are checked for any signs of disease. Types of surgeries performed may include lumpectomy, mastectomy, and resections. The cancers treated using surgery are esophageal, kidney, lung, ovarian, prostate, and skin carcinoma.

Immunotherapy

This type of treatment uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer. Types of cancer that can be treated with this method include melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, leukemia, and pancreatic cancer. Types of sensitizing chemo-drugs include busulfan, chlorambucil, fludarabine, melphalan, and thiotepa. The types of stem cells used in this cancer treatment are cord blood and embryonic stem cells.

Photodynamic Therapy

Also known as PDT or light-activated drug therapy, it is a type of treatment that involves using drugs such as 5-ALA, which will attach itself to abnormal blood vessels only when activated by light from lasers or other sources. This treatment works on two types of cancer: non-small cell lung cancer and esophageal cancer.

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