Cancer treatment

Lore & Background

The treatment of cancer has undergone evolutionary changes as understanding of the underlying biological processes has increased. Tumor removal surgeries have been documented in ancient Egypt, hormone therapy and radiation therapy were developed in the late 19th century. Chemotherapy, immunotherapy and newer targeted therapies are products of the 20th century. As new information about the biology of cancer emerges, treatments will be developed and modified to increase effectiveness, precision, survivability, and quality of life.

Surgery can cure malignant tumors if entirely removed, but complete excision is usually impossible if the cancer has metastasized. Surgical procedures include mastectomy, lumpectomy, prostatectomy, and lung cancer surgery. Surgery may be performed before or after other treatments, with neoadjuvant therapy given before surgery. Radiation therapy uses ionizing radiation to damage DNA and kill cancer cells, administered externally or internally via brachytherapy. Chemotherapy uses cytotoxic drugs that affect rapidly dividing cells, often given in combination, and can cause side effects such as hair loss, fatigue, and vomiting.

Targeted therapy, available since the late 1990s, uses agents specific to deregulated proteins in cancer cells, including small-molecule drugs like imatinib and monoclonal antibodies like trastuzumab. Other therapies include hyperthermia, immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy, stem-cell therapy, and PARP inhibitors such as olaparib. Angiogenesis inhibitors are sometimes used to enhance immunotherapies. Biomarker testing helps determine the type of cancer and indicate the best therapy.

Reader's Guide

Cancer treatment is significant because it represents a multifaceted approach to a disease that affects one in five people at some point in their lifetime. The choice of therapy depends on tumor location, grade, stage, and the patient's general state. Treatments range from local interventions like surgery and radiation to systemic therapies such as chemotherapy and targeted drugs. The development of targeted therapies and immunotherapies has improved precision and outcomes for certain cancers. However, many treatments have side effects, and experimental treatments are continuously under development. The legacy of cancer treatment is its ongoing evolution, with the goal of increasing effectiveness, survivability, and quality of life, while recognizing that many cancers can be successfully treated if detected early.

Did You Know?

• Tumor removal surgeries have been documented in ancient Egypt.
• Radiation therapy can lead to permanent dry mouth from damage to salivary glands.
• Chemotherapy targets all rapidly dividing cells, not just cancer cells.
• Targeted therapy first became available in the late 1990s.