| While theres a whole gamut of cancer treatment | | | | Radiation therapy involves the use of high-energy |
| options available; which is the best one to use | | | | ionizing radiation from varied sources including x-rays, |
| depends upon the type of cancer as well the stage | | | | gamma rays, protons and neutrons to shrink tumors |
| that the cancer has reached. Though the prevailing | | | | and kill cancerous cells. It is used almost half of all |
| trend is to resort to more traditional cancer | | | | cancer patients; either by itself or in combination with |
| treatment options, cancer patients are not restricted | | | | other cancer treatments. External-beam radiation |
| to them. There are a variety of alternative and | | | | therapy, which involves using radiation that is emitted |
| natural options (some new, some old) for treating | | | | from a machine outside the body is more common |
| cancer. | | | | than internal radiation therapy, in which a radioactive |
| Traditional Cancer Treatment Options | | | | material is implanted in the body near the tumor or |
| Traditional cancer treatment options are often | | | | cancer cells. |
| referred to as cut, poison and burn (surgery, | | | | Surgery |
| chemotherapy, and radiation). | | | | Surgery often entails a biopsy, which is done for |
| Chemotherapy | | | | diagnostic purposes. Surgery that is done to remove |
| Chemotherapy, which involves the use of chemical | | | | the cancerous tissues is often followed by |
| agents or drugs to destroy cancerous cells, forms | | | | chemotherapy or radiotherapy, which reduces the |
| the core treatment of malignancies. These drugs | | | | risk of the cancer recurring and also to destroy any |
| work by targeting fast-growing cells and the type | | | | cancer cells that may be left behind in the affected |
| and combination of drugs depends upon the type of | | | | part of the body. |
| cancer. Though chemotherapy has been proven to | | | | The kind of surgery depends on which part of the |
| be effective, it can give rise to a host of | | | | body has been affected by cancer as well as the |
| side-effects including hair loss, fatigue, diarrhea, loss | | | | extent of the cancer. In breast cancer patients the |
| of appetite, anemia or low red blood cell count, | | | | options could include lumpectomy, in which only the |
| neutropenia or low white blood cell count, mouth | | | | lump is removed; segmentectomy, in which part of |
| sores and shortness of breath. | | | | the breast is removed or mastectomy, in which the |
| Radiation Therapy | | | | entire breast is removed. |