Leukemia, melanoma, lymphoma. A short beginning to a list that can extend far too long. These are all cancers, and the list is one that makes anyone shudder at the mere mention of it. While the number of cancers you can become diagnosed with is numerous, so too is the list of treatments used to battle this disease. However in the medical community there are three types of treatments that remain steadfast as the core of defense: surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
Surgery
Known as the oldest form of cancer treatment, according to the American Cancer Society, the use of surgery in the treatment of cancer is as varied as the types of cancer. Doctors use surgery not just as a means of treating this disease, but also to make the initial diagnosis, determine the type of cancer and find out how far it has spread.
Preventative surgery is used in cases when your doctor feels you may be at risk for developing cancer. This is frequently used when polyps (non-cancerous clumps of cells) are discovered during a colonoscopy. Although the polyps do not pose a health threat at that time, if left in your colon they can become malignant (cancerous).
Debulking is another type of surgery and is used to remove part of a tumor. According to the American Cancer Association, your doctor may opt for debulking when removing the entire tumor would damage surrounding tissue or organs.
Radiation
This procedure disperses measured doses of radiation directly to the site of the cancer. It is more precise than its treatment counterpart, chemotherapy, and the amount of damage done to healthy cells is thereby reduced.
The most commonly used type of radiation is external beam. Given through machines called linear accelerators, the process is similar to undergoing an X-ray. The dose of radiation you receive, the length of your treatment session and the amount of sessions you undergo are at the discretion of your doctor; however, it is generally given daily over a period of several weeks.
Internal radiation, or brachytherapy, is better suited for people who need higher doses of radiation, such as those whose required radiation dose is higher than the outside tissue would be able to handle. This type of radiation involves the implantation of radioactive catheters (thin tubes). The catheters are placed directly into or near the tumor. If your doctor prescribes permanent brachytherapy, the catheters implanted will contain rice-sized seeds that release radiation automatically over a period of weeks or months. If temporary brachytherapy is ordered, the radioactive source is implanted, left in place for 10 to 20 minutes, and then removed. This requires a hospital visit each time, and sessions may be twice a day for several weeks. The dose and number of sessions is at your doctor's discretion.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a type of treatment requiring the use of anti-cancer drugs to destroy cancer cells. There are hundreds of chemotherapy drugs used to treat various types of cancers. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe a combination of drugs to treat your specific condition.
Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment, meaning it travels through your bloodstream to reach the cancer cells. To do this, it can be taken one of three ways: Orally via a tablet or suspension liquid, through an injection or intravenously (through your veins).
While seeking out and destroying cancer cells, chemotherapy drugs may damage or destroy healthy cells they come across. This results in unpleasant side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and fatigue. These side effects are temporary and generally subside once treatment ends.
