How is cancer treated?

Cancer treatment can take many different forms and is always tailored according to the individual patient. Many factors are considered in making a decision on treatment: the type, Size and location of the cancer, the extent to which it has already spread and can be expected to spread, and the patient’s age, sex, general health and personal treatment preferences.

The three major types of treatment are:

• Surgery the removal of a malignant tumour in an operation
• Chemotherapy kills cancer cells through the use of drugs taken either orally or through injections.
• Radiation therapy – uses targeted radiation beams delivered from outside the body to the tumour site to kill cancer cells. For almost 60% of cancer patients, treatment includes radiation therapy.

What radiation therapy does

Cancer cells divide much faster than our normal cells. Radiation targets these. When it reacts with water in the cells, it damages the DNA or genetic material in the cell that controls its growth. Usually, cells can repair themselves and continue growing. However, cancer cells cannot. The process also affects normal cells, but, they repair themselves more effectively.

A Consultant Oncologist is a trained physician who deals with the management and treatment of patients with cancer. He/She is involved in the use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy to treat and alleviate the effects of cancer.

Using state-of-the-art computers (Oncentra, PLATO), the specialist along with a Medical Physicist and Therapists develop a variety of best-suited treatment plans that would effectively destroy the tumour while sparing normal tissue.