TREATMENT OPTIONS

How Does Chemotherapy Work?
Chemotherapy works by destroying rapid growing cells or by stopping cells from growing or multiplying.

Some drugs block the effect of the body’s hormones and some boost the body’s own immune system. Other drugs help the body repair or make new cells destroyed by chemotherapy. Some drugs work better when given in combination with other drugs. This is called combination chemotherapy.

Different drugs are used for different types of disease. Some drugs are used for many different types of disease, while other drugs have more limited use or are disease-specific.

Where is Treatment Given?
Where chemotherapy is given depends on your general condition and the type of drug being used. Treatment may be given in our office or in the hospital.

How Frequently is Treatment Given?
The length and frequency of treatment depends on the type of disease, goals of treatment, drugs used and how the body responds to the drugs. Treatment can be as frequent as every day, or on a weekly or monthly basis, depending on the physician’s orders. The treatment plan is referred to as a regimen or protocol.

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How is Chemotherapy Given?
Chemotherapy is most commonly given intravenously (IV). It may also be given by injection, orally in pill, capsule or liquid form, or applied to the skin (topical administration). If done by injection, it may be intramuscular (IM) into a muscle, subcutaneous (SQ or SC) under the skin, or intralesional (IL) directly into a cancerous area on the skin.

What Determines How Well Treatment is Working?
There are several ways to determine how well your treatment is working. These include, but are not limited to the physical exam, radiology reports and laboratory testing.

How is Chemotherapy Used with Other Forms of Treatment?
Chemotherapy may be used in conjunction with surgery, radiation therapy and/or immunotherapy to:

Shrink a tumor before surgery or radiation therapy. This is called neo-adjuvant therapy
Help destroy any cancer cells that may remain after surgery and/or radiation therapy. This is called adjuvant chemotherapy.

Who Should Have Surgery?
To confirm a cancer diagnosis, it may be recommended that you meet with a surgeon to discuss any possible surgical options. Surgery is the oldest form of treatment and very effective for certain cancers.

Surgery’s role in cancer treatment has expanded considerably over the past few years. The basic principle of surgery is very simple. The goal is to remove any cancerous growth without destroying the normal function of that particular area. Surgery is often used together with radiation and/or chemotherapy to maximize the benefit to cancer patients. The exact nature of any surgical operation and its side effects varies greatly from patient to patient. Your doctor and surgeon will help you determine if your specific cancer makes you a surgical candidate.

What is Combination Therapy?
In many cases, your best treatment may actually be a combination of treatments. Combining treatments may have a profound effect, not only on the cancer, but also on your overall well-being. Your team of specialists will be your best resource when determining which treatments are right for you.

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DEALING WITH TREATMENT

Once you and your doctor have selected the treatment, or combination of treatments, appropriate to your cancer and life, you will need to be mentally and physically prepared for the challenges they may bring. The way you choose to cope with cancer treatment and their side effects depends largely on your outlook, your ability to seek out resources and your willingness to let others help.

Today, there are numerous professionals trained solely in the care of cancer patients. These professionals include, of course, physicians and nurses, but they also include psychologists, social workers, nutritionists, physical therapists and home health workers, to name a few.

These people can be a wonderful resource while you prepare for, undergo, and recover from your cancer treatments. Seeking out their help is a positive step toward fighting your disease, and needing them should not be viewed as a weakness.

Once you have consulted with your doctor, you will find that the next step toward survival is preparing for treatment. 

Proper nutrition, exercise and stress management are the top three ways you can help yourself now and later.