The available modes of cancer treatment Florida residents can benefit from include surgery, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and the use of monoclonal antibodies. These options can be used singly but the common practice is to use them in combination. The choice depends on the site and grade of tumor as well as the clinical stage of the disease.
Surgery is preferred in cases where the tumor is not hematological and has not metastasized. Theoretically, almost all the tumor is removed if it has not spread. In cases of organ involvement, the entire organ may be removed. Examples of tumors treatable in this manner include those involving the breast, lung or prostate depending on the grade and clinical stage.
Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs (anti-neoplastic agents). The drugs target rapidly proliferating cells that make up tumors and interfere with their cell division. This slows down tumor growth. Most drugs are given in combination to enhance the effect (combination chemotherapy). Leukemias, lymphomas, and ovarian tumors among others are some of those commonly treated with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is associated with numerous side effects including hair loss, appetite changes, anaemia, bleeding problems, constipation, and memory loss among others.
Radiation therapy (radiotherapy) uses ionizing radiation to kill tumor cells thus shrinking the tumor size. It is used in management of solid tumors such as those of the brain, cervix, prostate, pancreas, uterus and larynx. It is of two types; external beam radiation and brachytherapy. The former involves administration of the radiation from an external source while in the latter the source of radiation is placed within the cancerous growth. Normal cells are affected during treatment but they recover with time.
There are other methods still in their experimental phase. The use of monoclonal antibodies has been started in some centres with huge success but there still much to be done. In this approach, the monoclonal antibodies bind to the abnormal cells and lead to their death. Others include immunotherapy, hormonal therapy and use of angiogenesis inhibitors.
In order to provide specialized care for patients undergoing cancer treatment florida has several hospices. Within these hospices, patients who are not treatable by any of the available options are given palliative care. Their quality of life has been found to greatly improve because of these services.
Surgery is preferred in cases where the tumor is not hematological and has not metastasized. Theoretically, almost all the tumor is removed if it has not spread. In cases of organ involvement, the entire organ may be removed. Examples of tumors treatable in this manner include those involving the breast, lung or prostate depending on the grade and clinical stage.
Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs (anti-neoplastic agents). The drugs target rapidly proliferating cells that make up tumors and interfere with their cell division. This slows down tumor growth. Most drugs are given in combination to enhance the effect (combination chemotherapy). Leukemias, lymphomas, and ovarian tumors among others are some of those commonly treated with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is associated with numerous side effects including hair loss, appetite changes, anaemia, bleeding problems, constipation, and memory loss among others.
Radiation therapy (radiotherapy) uses ionizing radiation to kill tumor cells thus shrinking the tumor size. It is used in management of solid tumors such as those of the brain, cervix, prostate, pancreas, uterus and larynx. It is of two types; external beam radiation and brachytherapy. The former involves administration of the radiation from an external source while in the latter the source of radiation is placed within the cancerous growth. Normal cells are affected during treatment but they recover with time.
There are other methods still in their experimental phase. The use of monoclonal antibodies has been started in some centres with huge success but there still much to be done. In this approach, the monoclonal antibodies bind to the abnormal cells and lead to their death. Others include immunotherapy, hormonal therapy and use of angiogenesis inhibitors.
In order to provide specialized care for patients undergoing cancer treatment florida has several hospices. Within these hospices, patients who are not treatable by any of the available options are given palliative care. Their quality of life has been found to greatly improve because of these services.
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