There are different proven methods for the treatment of cancer. Every type of cancer is treated with different method. The most common and effective types of treatments for cancer are mentioned below
Surgery
Surgery is considered as the oldest effective method for the treatment of cancer. With the help of surgery, the diagnosis and extent of cancer has become possible because it not only diagnoses the cancer but it also tells the extent of it.
As new researches are being made in the field of medical sciences in general and in surgery in particular, new techniques have evolved that provide surgeons the best types of surgery used for a particular case. Tumors are removed nowadays through less invasive operations and in such operations, normal functions are preserved as much as possible.
With the help of surgery, it becomes possible for surgeons to stop the spreading of cancer by the removal of the organ in which the cancer cells are being divided.
There are many reasons to choose surgery as a cancer treatment. They are described below
Body tissues are removed by preventive surgery that is also known as prophylactic surgery. In this type, the tissue, where the chances to occur cancer are the most, is cut off the body as a safety measure. Suppose polyps are found in colon so it is advised that surgery be used to remove them because such polyps can become cancerous.
A sample of tissue is taken in Diagnostic surgery. This sample of tissue is taken from the organ where the symptoms of cancer are found. The shape of the cells of those tissues can be observed under the microscope and its diagnosis as cancerous can be confirmed just by viewing it under the microscope because the shape of cells changes if cancer is there.
There are many other surgery types such as staging surgery, curative surgery, debulking surgery also known as cytoreductive surgery, palliative surgery, supportive surgery and restorative surgery.
Biopsy is a method that is used for the removal of a tissue sample in order to diagnose the cancer. There are different types of biopsies. Some of them require surgery for the removal of sample tissue but there are other types of biopsy in which surgery is not done and a tissue sample is taken with the help of a thin needle known as endoscope.
Laser surgery is used for the cutting of tissues or for the vaporization of cancers of different types such as the cancers of larynx, rectum, cervix, liver or skin.
Radiation Therapy
Radiations have been considered as a treatment method since the discovery of x-rays. With the advancement in technology, scientists have come to understand the benefits and effects of x-rays if they are used as a treatment method for cancer. And it can be said the radiation therapy has become the most important treatment method among many other effective methods.
There are various uses of radiation therapy in the treatment of cancer such as it can be used in early stages of cancer for controlling or curing the cancer, it can shrink the size of the tumor so it can be used before surgery, and it can be used after surgery in order to make sure that the cancer cells do not produce again.
The most widely used type of treating cancer through radiation therapy is external beam radiation. In this method, the patient is given radiations just the same method as getting an x-ray but this method requires the exposure of radiations for a longer time.
There are different responses of different tissues towards radiation therapy. Some side effects of radiation therapy can be obtained when the normal tissues that are dividing more quickly get radiations too.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a method in which drugs or medicines are used for the treatment of cancer. These drugs can be taken before or after surgery, they can be taken before or after the radiation therapy or they can be taken alone. Chemotherapy has been in use for the treatment of cancer since 1950s. The drugs given in chemotherapy have been tested again and again. As there are many highly effective drugs, it is found that many people with cancer live their lives with full happiness due to the proper use of chemotherapy.
With the passage of time, the scientists are trying to make such drugs that will be more effective with fewer side effects. There are different patterns of using drugs in chemotherapy. Some are taken daily, once a week or once a month. It depends upon the type of drug as well as the type of cancer being treated.