Need Information about Cancer?
What is Cancer?
Cancer is a term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade other tissues. Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems.
Types of Cancer?
Cancer is not just one disease but many diseases. There are more than 100 different types of cancer. Most cancers are named for the organ or type of cell in which they start - for example, cancer that begins in the colon is called colon cancer; cancer that begins in basal cells of the skin is called basal cell carcinoma.
Cancer Treatments
Cancer can be treated by surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, monoclonal antibody therapy or other methods. The choice of therapy depends upon the location and grade of the tumour and the stage of the disease, as well as the general state of the patient (performance status). A number of experimental cancer treatments are also under development (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_of_cancer).
Because there are over one hundred types of cancer, treatment is individualised and often employs multiple modalities of therapy at one time.
Complete removal of the cancer without damage to the rest of the body is the goal of treatment. Sometimes this can be accomplished by surgery, but the propensity of cancers to invade adjacent tissue or to spread to distant sites means that other therapies such as chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy are combined with surgery.
Read more: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/treatment/types-of-treatment
Fact Sheets
This series of chemotherapy side effects sheets has medical advice and practical tips to help you during chemotherapy. Learn about self-care, medical problems to call your doctor about, and questions to ask your doctor.