Approach to Cancer Treatment

Depending on the type of cancer and cancer stage, there are medical procedures and drugs available to treat cancer. Treatments like radiation therapy and surgery are used to treat specific tumors or areas of the body. Drug systematic treatment such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy are therapies often used on the entire body.

Innovative research has advanced in the medical field enabling most people to undergo a combination of treatments. From screening to cancer diagnosis, it is recommended to visit approved cancer treatment centers dealing with a specific cancer type, such as lung cancer treatment Orange County.

Radiation Therapy/X-ray therapy

This is a cancer treatment process involving high-energy waves such as electron beams or gamma rays to destroy, kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. The radiotherapy process tries to aim at the affected part with minimal harm to nearby healthy cells. Irradiation does not help treat cancer cells that have spread within the body.

Chemotherapy

This curative intent entails inducing drugs that travel throughout the body and kill cancer cells that have metastasized from the primary tumor. Chemo can be used to help shrink a tumor that causes pain to the patient. Chemo treatment is sometimes used with other drugs such as hormone therapy and targeted therapy. For example, after surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy is used to damage any remaining cancer cell.

Palliative care

This is not a direct treatment for cancer but hospice care is offered on diagnosis, during, and after cancer treatment. The palliative care professionals involved aid in addressing mental, social, emotional, and spiritual issues. The care provides better relief from symptoms and side effects for people with serious illnesses.

Conclusion

Before any treatment is set on, it’s advisable to consider the type and subtype of cancer, patients’ age, how far cancer has spread, tumor biomarkers, and patients’ overall health.… Read More...

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Growing Understanding About Skin Cancer Growth

The sun plays a key role in sustaining life on earth. Plants use the energy from the sun to perform photosynthesis, which allows them to make food for themselves. In the process, they release the oxygen that other organisms, including humans, depend on. Unfortunately, exposure to the sun can also be harmful. Skin cancer represents the most common type of cancer, and studies show that in 90% of the cases, skin cancer can be linked to being exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun.

Cancer Growth

Cancer occurs when cells grow abnormally and divide in an uncontrolled manner. Cancer cells are no longer under the usual control mechanisms of the body; errors (or mutations) in the DNA of these cells allow them to grow out of control. In the case of skin cancer, the mutations that permit the cells to grow abnormally accumulate in skin cells. Although many cancer cells have the ability to metastasize (or spread) and can, therefore, be found throughout the body, cancers are named according to the type of tissue or organ in which the cancer initially formed. If someone receives a diagnosis of skin cancer Memphis doctors, as well as doctors in other cities, may need to order additional tests so that the stage of the cancer can be determined. Knowing the stage can be helpful in determining the most effective treatment options.

Skin Cancer Development

It is possible for skin cancer to develop on areas of the body that typically do not receive much sun exposure, such as the palms of the hands, the genital area, and beneath the toenails or fingernails. Development is more common, however, on sun-exposed body parts; these include the face, ears, lips, scalp, chest, neck, hands, arms, and (primarily in women) the legs. Interestingly, when skin cancer appears in darker-complexioned individuals, it often does so in those areas that typically receive less sun exposure; these can include the soles of the feet or the palms of the hands. Regardless of its location, if skin cancer is discovered early, a positive outcome is more likely.… Read More...

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