Understanding Your Cancer

Cancer Treatment

Cancer Treatment: Latest Options Explained

Cancer treatment has come a long way. Today, there are more advanced and personalized options than ever before. Here’s a simple guide to the latest cancer treatments and what they do:

1. Surgery
What it does: Removes cancer from the body. Often used when cancer is found early and hasn’t spread.

2. Radiation Therapy
What it does: Uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells or shrink tumors. It can be used before or after surgery or as a main treatment.

3. Chemotherapy
What it does: Uses powerful drugs to kill fast-growing cancer cells. Often given in cycles and sometimes combined with other treatments.

Chemotherapy vs. Radiation:
What’s the Difference?

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, you may be wondering: What’s the difference between chemotherapy and radiation therapy? Both are common cancer treatments, but they work in different ways and have different goals, side effects, and benefits.

What Is Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy (or chemo) is a drug treatment that uses powerful medicines to kill cancer cells throughout the entire body. It’s often used to treat cancers that have spread or to reduce the risk of recurrence after surgery.

• How it works: Chemo travels through the bloodstream to reach cancer cells anywhere in the body.
• Common side effects: Fatigue, nausea, hair loss, low blood counts.
• Best for: Widespread cancer or cancer that may come back.

What Is Radiation Therapy?

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays (like X-rays) to target and destroy cancer cells in a specific part of the body. It’s often used when the cancer is localized.

• How it works: Delivers focused beams to shrink or eliminate tumors.
• Common side effects: Skin irritation, fatigue, and localized discomfort.
• Best for: Cancer that is confined to one area, like breast, prostate, or brain cancer.

4. Immunotherapy What it does: Boosts the body’s immune system to recognize and attack cancer. Some treatments use lab-made proteins or checkpoint inhibitors to help your immune system work better.

5. Targeted Therapy What it does: Uses drugs that target specific genes or proteins found in cancer cells—leaving healthy cells mostly untouched. Often based on biomarker testing.

6. Hormone Therapy What it does: Blocks or lowers hormones that certain cancers (like breast or prostate) need to grow.

7. CAR T-Cell Therapy What it does: A cutting-edge treatment where your immune cells are modified in a lab to fight cancer. Mostly used for blood cancers like leukemia or lymphoma.

8. Clinical Trials What they offer: Access to the newest treatments being tested—often available when standard options no longer work.

9. Integrative Care What it includes: Supportive therapies like nutrition, exercise, mental health care, and pain management used alongside medical treatment.

✅ Choosing the Right Cancer Treatment Your treatment plan depends on your type of cancer, stage, health, and personal goals. Always talk to your oncologist about all options—including new or targeted therapies.