Cancer Treatment Tests and Procedures
Reasons for Cancer Treatment
The first aim of cancer treatment is to get rid of the disease or kill all the cancer cells. Surgeons often remove tumors that have not spread. Doctors use chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or drugs that target cancer cells when surgery is not possible or when those treatments fit the type of cancer better.
Medical teams call treating cancer at this stage “main treatment.” The doctor chooses the method that best matches the patient’s needs and cancer type.
| Approach | Common Methods | Typical Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Surgery | Cutting out the tumor | Localized cancers |
| Chemotherapy | Medicines that kill cells | Widespread cancers |
| Radiation | X-rays or particles | Specific tumor sites |
| Immunotherapy | Boosting immune system | Some cancer types |
Extra Treatment After the Main Step
After the main effort to remove or kill cancer, doctors may prescribe extra treatments to destroy any undetected cancer cells. This step, often called “follow-up therapy,” can include chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, or special cancer drugs. These treatments lower the risk of cancer returning.
In some cases, doctors give similar treatments called “pre-treatment” before the main procedure. This can shrink a tumor, making surgery or radiation work better or making treatments simpler for the patient.
Supportive Care for Comfort
Supportive (palliative) care aims to help patients feel as comfortable as possible. This can include pain relief, help with symptoms, or emotional and social support. These treatments do not aim to cure the disease, but they do improve quality of life. Healthcare teams—doctors, nurses, and other trained workers—help meet the patient’s needs and support families as well.
Treatment Challenges
Cancer treatments can cause a range of side effects. These can include nausea, vomiting, tiredness, and pain. The type and severity of side effects may depend on the medication or therapy used.
| Common Side Effects | Description |
|---|---|
| Vomiting | Feeling sick to the stomach or throwing up |
| Fatigue | Low energy and tiredness |
| Changes in Appetite | Eating less or losing weight |
Tip: Patients should talk to their care team about which symptoms to expect and how to handle them.
Ways to Get Ready
Getting ready for cancer treatment involves several steps that can help a person feel more in control. Asking questions during appointments and keeping a list of concerns can make communication with the care team more useful. Bringing a trusted friend or family member to appointments can also help with remembering information and writing down answers.
Looking into a second opinion from another health professional is another way to be sure about treatment choices. Many find it helpful to hear from more than one expert before making decisions. Connecting with others who have faced similar challenges can provide both support and practical advice. Support groups, either local or online, can offer a space to share ideas about dealing with side effects or emotions.
Getting support from trained professionals, like counselors or social workers, is important for mental health. Also, asking about nutrition consultation or fitness programs can prepare the body for what lies ahead.
Preparation Checklist
- Write down questions.
- Bring support to appointments.
- Seek a second opinion.
- Join support groups.
- Ask about counseling.
- Consider nutrition and exercise programs.
What You Can Expect
Cancer treatment often involves several options. The exact treatments depend on factors such as the type and stage of the cancer, the patient’s overall health, and personal choices. The cancer care team will guide each person through decision-making, ensuring that all risks and benefits are discussed. Common treatment types include:
- Surgery: Surgeons remove cancerous tissue, often as the first step if they can safely take out the tumor.
- Chemotherapy: Doctors use powerful medications, usually by vein or by mouth, to target and destroy cancer cells throughout the body.
- Radiation Therapy: Health professionals deliver strong energy beams, such as X-rays or protons, directly to cancer cells. This can happen externally or, in some cases, internally using special devices.
- Bone Marrow Transplant: Medical teams give healthy stem cells to help restore blood cell production after other treatments have damaged the patient’s own marrow.
- Immunotherapy: Doctors boost or guide the body’s own immune defenses to find and kill cancer cells.
- Hormone Therapy: Doctors block or remove hormones from the body if certain cancers rely on those hormones to grow.
- Targeted Therapy: Specialists focus on blocking specific features in cancer cells that help them survive and multiply.
- Cryoablation: Doctors freeze and destroy cancer cells using very cold gases.
- Radiofrequency Ablation: Medical teams use electric currents to produce heat and kill cancer cells.
- Clinical Trials: Patients can try innovative treatments that are not yet widely available.
Example timeline of the treatment process
| Step | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Meeting with care team | Discussion of treatment options, expected outcomes, and questions. |
| Starting treatment | Receiving surgery, medicines, or other therapies as planned. |
| Monitoring and checkups | Regular visits to track progress and manage side effects. |
| Adjustments if needed | Changes in treatment plan if cancer responds differently or new needs arise. |
| End of main treatment | Move to follow-ups and support care. |
What Patients May Notice
- Treatment schedules can vary—from daily medicines to weekly or monthly visits.
- Side effects may appear, but the care team helps manage them with medications or advice.
- Not all treatments are suitable for everyone. The care plan is tailored by the cancer care team to match medical needs and the patient’s lifestyle.
- It’s common to have breaks between treatment cycles to allow the body to recover.
- Support from nurses, doctors, social workers, and others is available throughout the process.
Patients are encouraged to ask questions and express any concerns. Staying informed and involved helps make the treatment journey more manageable.
Treatment Follow-Up and Monitoring
Patients meet with their care team at regular times to talk about how their treatment is working. They report any symptoms or side effects. Keeping a list of questions helps make these visits more useful. Bringing a family member or friend may help with remembering information and taking notes.
Key Actions During Visits
- Share side effects
- Discuss progress
- Ask questions
- Review changes in symptoms
