Targeted Therapy
Advances in technology and science have led to the development of various different kinds of targeted therapy for Cancer or Molecularly targeted therapy. Targeted Therapy is a type of medication that blocks the growth of cancer cells by interfering with specific targeted molecules needed for carcinogenesis and tumor growth, rather than by simply interfering with all rapidly dividing cells. Targeted cancer therapies are proven more effective than current treatments and less harmful to normal cells.
Cancer Treatment
Biological Therapy
Biological therapy is also called Immunitherapy. It is a type therapy that works with your immune system to help fight disease. It also known to fight tumors and help control side effects from other treatments like chemotherapy. Biological therapy is designed to boost the immune system . The cells, antibodies, and organs of the immune system work to protect and defend the body against foreign invaders, such as bacteria or viruses. Research has found that the immune system might also be able to find the difference between healthy cells and cancer cells in the body, and to eliminate the cancer cells.
How does Biological Therapy fight cancer?
Doctors and Research studies believe that Bilogical therapy fights cancer by:
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Stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells
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Makes it easier for your immune system to destroy cancerous cells
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Keeps the disease from spreading to other parts of your body
Your physician may choose Biological therapy as your treatment or to enhance other treatments you may receiving.
Cancer Surgery
Surgical techniques are continually improving, and they also are less invasive now and can often be performed on an outpatient basis. Almost all patients will have some form of surgery for cancer. Surgical procedures might be used to take a biopsy for the purpose of obtaining a specimen and decide a correct diagnosis, provide localized treatment, and to gain more information to decide if more treatment is necessary.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells. It can consist of a single drug or a combination of many drugs injected into the body or can be administered in pill form. Chemotherapy fights the cancer circulated throughout the blood to areas of the patients body where cancer might spread. It can eliminate cancerous cells at distances far from the orginal site.
Clinical Trials
When either you or someone you love is diagnosed with cancer, knowing all the options available to treat the cancer is important when it comes to making the best decision about your treatment.
This could include the use of clinical trials at University Cancer Centers. Clinical trials are research studies engineered to test new options for treating cancer. Clinical trials are used to test the effectiveness and safety of treatments. Many of these treatments are only available by taking part in clinical trials. Trials evaluate unique approaches to radiation therapy and surgery, new anti-cancer drugs and new treatment combinations. In the United States, conduct of clinical trials overseen by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Radiation Therapy
The goal of radiation therapy is to eradicate diseased cells which might otherwise continue to grow after treatment. Mostly used to treat the early stages of cancer along with surgery. It is an effective treatment option for many carcinomas to control disease. In addition, doctors may choose this treatment to be used in the more advanced stages of cancer to control the tumors or to treat symptoms. This type of treatment is highly effective and is proven to reduce the chance of recurrence and improves chances of survival.
What is it and how does it work?
Radiation therapy, including intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), may be used with surgery or chemotherapy together. The beam is administered to the effected body part or breast and surrounding lymph nodes from a machine outside the body. This is called external beam radiation therapy. Treatments are often done daily over a 6 to 8 week period.
Through years of research and experience, doctors specializing in this treatment method have determined the exact precise dosage for specific types of carcinomas to maximize effectiveness and reduce harm to healthy tissues. The radiation oncologist will select the type of therapy best suited for your condition.
Brain and Body Stereotactic Radiosurgery better addresses the challenge of treating cancer near delicate structures of the brain or body. This capability allows University Cancer Centers to deliver precisely-guided beams of radiation from many different angles, all converging on the tumor.
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) is the most advanced conformal therapy approach. It combines 3-D imaging with the ability to conform radiation beams and deliver higher radiation doses to tumors. In addition to better controlling the cancer, IMRT allows Radiation Oncologists to more safely retreat tumors located close to delicate organs and minimize side effects.
Brachytherapy allows escalation of a radiation dose, while sparing normal tissues. It involves placing radioactive "seeds" or wires in tumors (interstitial implants) or near tumors (intravitary). Radiation is emitted outward, unlike external beam radiotherapy, where radiation must pass through normal tissue to reach the tumor.