Types of Cancer and Cancer therapy

In order to understand and get detailed information of Cancer you first need to understand the General of Oncology and Cancer therapy, what is the meaning of oncology and oncologist, what are the Types of Cancer and Cancer therapy. Oncology is the study of cancer whereas an oncologist is a doctor who treats cancer and provides medical care for a person diagnosed by cancer. They are also called as a cancer specialist.

What is Cancer?

Cancers are a group of diseases with abnormal growth of cells. A group of cancer cells are called Tumor. 

They can arise anywhere in the body and can affect any person from all age groups. Acc. to data, there were 14,61,427 new cancer cases in India in 2022.

Which are the Risk Factors of Cancer:-

• Age
• Excessive Alcohol
• Smoking Cigarette
• Smoke exposure
• Tobacco consumption
• Poor Diet
• Unprotected Sex
• Excessive sun exposure
• Obesity
• Excessive body weight
• Genetics
• Harmful Radiation

What are the Types of Cancer:-

The 4 cancer stages?

There are 4 stages in Cancer

Stage 1– Tumor is small and has not grown outside the organ

Sometimes it is also called early stage or localized cancer. 

Stage 2– Tumor has not spread to nearby tissues but it is larger than stage 1

Tumor may have grown in size

Stage 3– Tumor is large and has spread to nearby tissues and lymph nodes
Cancer effects more surrounding tissues

Stage 4– Tissues has spread through the blood or lymphatic system

Sometimes called advanced or metastatic cancer. Cancer has spread in stage 4 to other tissues or organs.

Therapy of cancer:-

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a revolutionary approach that harnesses the power of the immune system to treat cancer and other diseases. It is a type of treatment that aims to enhance the body’s natural defense mechanism against cancer by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. Immunotherapy has shown promising results in treating various types of cancers, including melanoma, lung cancer, and bladder cancer. This therapy has fewer side effects compared to traditional cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The most common types of immunotherapy include immune checkpoint inhibitors, CAR T-cell therapy, and cancer vaccines. Immunotherapy is a rapidly evolving field with ongoing research to develop new and more effective treatments for cancer and other diseases.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy is a common treatment used to fight cancer. It involves the use of high-energy radiation to damage cancer cells and prevent them from growing and dividing. Radiation therapy works by damaging the DNA of cancer cells, which prevents them from reproducing. The treatment is usually delivered externally, using a machine that directs the radiation towards the site of the cancer. It can also be delivered internally, by placing radioactive material inside the body near the cancer. Radiation therapy can be used alone or in combination with other treatments, such as surgery or chemotherapy, to increase the chances of success. Although there can be side effects of radiation therapy, it is generally a safe and effective treatment for many types of cancer.

Bone marrow transplantation

Bone marrow transplantation is a medical procedure that involves replacing damaged or diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow stem cells. This procedure is often used to treat certain types of cancer, such as leukemia, as well as other blood disorders, such as sickle cell anemia. During a bone marrow transplant, the patient’s own bone marrow is first destroyed using radiation or chemotherapy. Then, healthy bone marrow stem cells are infused into the patient’s bloodstream, where they can travel to the bone marrow and begin producing new blood cells. The success of a bone marrow transplant depends on many factors, including the type of disease being treated and the compatibility of the donor’s bone marrow with the patient’s.

Chemotherapy

This treatment that is used for cancer with medication that are toxic to cells to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells. It is used to shrink the size of the tumor. Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment where medicines are used to kill the cancer cells and stop the reproducing of cancer cells.

Surgery

Surgery is a physical removal of the tumor. It is the procedure to removing the tumor and some nearby harmfull tissues from our body. Removing a Tumor by surgery can also be called as resection.

Photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a non-invasive treatment that uses light-sensitive drugs and laser to destroy cancer cells in the body. The photodynamic process involves the administration of a photosensitizing agent, which is then absorbed by the cancerous cells. When the laser is directed at the affected area, it activates the photosensitizing agent, which in turn releases oxygen that destroys the cancerous cells. PDT has shown great promise in treating a variety of cancers, including skin, lung, bladder, and prostate cancer. It is a relatively safe and effective treatment option that has fewer side effects compared to traditional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. PDT is still an evolving technology, and there is ongoing research to explore its full potential in treating cancer.

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