Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of
abnormal cells in the body. Cancer develops when the body’s normal control
mechanism stops working. Old cells do not die and instead grow out of control,
forming new, abnormal cells. These extra cells may form a mass of tissue,
called a tumor. Some cancers, such as leukemia, do not form tumors.
What are the most common forms of
cancer?
Cancer may occur anywhere in the body.
In women, breast cancer is one of the most common. In men,
it’s prostate cancer. Lung
cancer and colorectal cancer affect
both men and women in high numbers.
There are five main categories of
cancer:
§ Carcinomas begin in the
skin or tissues that line the internal organs.
§ Sarcomas develop in the
bone, cartilage, fat, muscle or other connective tissues.
§ Leukemia begins in the
blood and bone marrow.
§ Lymphomas start in the
immune system.
§ Central nervous system
cancers develop in the brain and spinal cord.
How is cancer treated?
Treatment options depend on the type of
cancer, its stage, if the cancer has spread and your general health. The goal
of treatment is to kill as many cancerous cells while reducing damage to normal
cells nearby. Advances in technology make this possible.
The three main treatments are:
§ Surgery: directly removing
the tumor
§ Chemotherapy: using chemicals
to kill cancer cells
§ Radiation therapy: using X-rays to
kill cancer cells
The same cancer type in one individual
is very different from that cancer in another individual. Within a single type
of cancer, such as breast cancer, researchers are discovering subtypes that
each requires a different treatment approach.
What can you do to manage the side
effects of cancer treatment?
Supportive care services describe a
broad range of therapies designed to combat side effects and maintain
well-being. Treating cancer requires focusing on more than the disease alone;
it must also address the pain, fatigue, depression and other side effects that
come with it.
Supportive care services include:
§ Nutrition therapy to help prevent
malnutrition and reduce side effects
§ Naturopathic medicine to use natural
remedies to boost energy and reduce side effects
§ Oncology rehabilitation to rebuild
strength and overcome some of the physical effects of treatment
§ Mind-body medicine to improve
emotional well-being through counseling, stress management techniques and
support groups
What does the future hold for cancer
treatment?
The future of cancer treatment lies in
providing patients with an even greater level of personalization. Doctors are
beginning to offer treatment options based on the genetic changes occurring in
a specific tumor.
An innovative new diagnostic tool,
the genomic tumor assessment, examines a patient’s tumor genetically
to identify the mechanism that caused the cancer. Genomic tumor assessment may
result in a more personalized approach to cancer treatment.
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