Cancer Traditional Treatment

Cancer Treatment

Cancer treatment plans are largely dependant upon how advanced the disease is and where it is located. Some cancers can be treated through just radiation alone while others require both radiation, chemotherapy and even surgery in some cases.

Biological therapy, hormone therapy, gene therapy, laser therapy and bone marrow transplants are additional kinds of conventional treatment options.

There are also a variety of alternative and complementary treatment options that can be used in place of or in conjunction with conventional treatment practices. While there are numerous kinds of alternative and complementary treatments, acupuncture to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea, massage therapy for cancer-induced fatigue and special diet therapies to facilitate healing are some of the most commonly practiced treatments.

Common Medications for Breast Cancer

Medicines used to treat breast cancer Aromatase inhibitors like Tamoxifen prevent estrogen from facilitating the further development of a specific kind of breast cancer. This popular medication is most effective when it is used after menopause. Trastuzumab like Herceptin or are used in conjunction with chemotherapy in order to improve the efficacy of the chemotherapy treatment.
Serotonin Antagonists like Zofran and Aloxi, aprepitents like Emend and phenothiazines are used to control the nausea and vomiting that result from chemotherapy.

Common Medications for Prostate Cancer

Testosterone Inhibitors like Lupron or Zoladex are frequently used to prevent the production of testosterone, the hormone that facilitates the growth of the prostate tumor. Androgen-blocking drugs like Flutamide inhibit testosterone from attaching itself to the prostate cells. Chemotherapy medications like Ariamycin, Docetaxel, Paclitaxel and Prednisone are used when hormone therapy treatments like testosterone inhibitors and androgen-blocking drugs do not sufficiently shrink the tumor.

Common Medications for Lung Cancer

Chemotherapy medications like Carboplatin, Cisplatin, Etoposide, Doxetaxel, Bevacizumab and Gemcitabane are used to interrupt the process of cancer cell division in order to stop the tumor from growing. Chemotherapy medications are either taken in a pill or intravenous form and carry a host of side effects such as fatigue, nausea, hair loss, digestive problems and reduced immune capacity.

Common Medications for Ovarian Cancer

Chemotherapy medicines like Carboplatin, Cisplatin, Placlitaxel are the most effective ovarian cancer medicines that are used to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. A typical course includes six rounds of Placitaxel in addition to Carboplatin or Cisplatin. These medicines, which are administered intravenously cause a variety of side effects include fatigue, nausea, hair loss, bruising, peripheral neuropathy and reduced immune capacity.

Common Medications for Cervical Cancer

Chemotherapy medicines like Cisplatin and Flourouracil are the most common cervical cancer drugs that prevent the cancer cells from dividing and thereby multiplying in number. Both of these medications are taken intravenously and may include side effects like sensitivity to light, compromised immune response, digestive problems, mouth sores, and peripheral neuropathy.

For advanced or recurrent cervical cancer, chemotherapy medicines include Mitomycin, Paclitaxel and Ifosfamide. These antitumor medications work to prevent cancer cells from dividing and duplicating. Side effects include nausea, digestive problems, reduced immune capacity, mouth sores, fatigue and sensitivity to sunlight.

Common Medications for Skin Cancer

Fluorouracil is a cream used to treat nonmelanoma skin cancers. Applied directly to the affected skin areas, the cream works to kill the skin disease. Side effects will include pain and a burning sensation on the affected area, discoloration changes, redness and oozing. Imiquimod cream or Aldara is used to treat basal cell carcinoma on all areas of the body except the face. It is often used when surgical removal of the skin cancer would cause significant scarring. It works by facilitating the growth of immune system defenses that attack the invading cancer cells.

Chemotherapy medicines are only used when nonmelanoma skin cancers like basal and squamous cell cancers have spread to other areas of the body. But in the case of metastasized melanoma, the chemotherapy drugs like interferon and dacarbazine and are used to improve the body’s defenses against fighting off the cancer cells. Anti-Nausea drugs like aprepitant (Emend) and dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) are used to lessen the nausea and vomiting that accompanies chemotherapy treatment.