Treatment
Cancer is treated depending on the type and the stage of the cancer. The treatment may involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a mixture of the three. There may also be a clinical trial available for your type of cancer. The goal of treatment is to cure your cancer, keep your cancer from spreading, or to relieve the symptoms caused by cancer.
Surgery
- Surgery is used to diagnose cancer, determine its stage, and to treat cancer. The goal of the surgery is to remove all or most of the tumor and some surrounding tissue. Removing tissue near the tumor area may help stop the tumor from growing back. It also provides the best chance for cure for many kinds of cancer. Surgery may be done before or after chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Radiation Therapy
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Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, uses high-energy rays to damage or kill cancer cells by preventing them from growing and dividing. Similar to surgery, radiation therapy is a local treatment used to eliminate or eradicate visible tumors.
Radiation may be used to cure or control cancer, or to ease some of the symptoms caused by cancer. Sometimes radiation is used with other types of cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy and surgery, and sometimes it is used alone.
