How is cancer treated?
How is cancer treated?
Once your medical team has given you a diagnosis, they’ll design a personalized treatment plan based on their findings. Cancer treatment may include:
- Chemotherapy. One of the most common cancer treatments, chemotherapy uses powerful drugs to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be given through an IV or in pill form.
- Radiation therapy. This treatment kills cancer cells with high dosages of radiation. In some instances, radiation may be given at the same time as chemotherapy.
- Surgery. In some cases, your surgeon can surgically remove the tumor.
- Hormone therapy. Sometimes hormones can block other cancer-causing hormones. For example, men with prostate cancer might be given hormones to keep testosterone (which contributes to prostate cancer) at bay.
- Biological response modifier therapy. This treatment stimulates your immune system and helps it perform more effectively. It does this by changing your body’s natural processes.
- Immunotherapy. Sometimes called biological therapy, immunotherapy treats disease by using the power of your body’s immune system. It can target cancer cells while leaving healthy cells intact.
- Bone marrow transplant. Also called stem cell transplantation, this treatment replaces damaged stem cells with healthy ones. Prior to transplantation, you’ll undergo chemotherapy to prepare your body for the process.