Types of Cancer Treatments I
Oncological
Surgery is the oldest treatment for cancer. This applies especially in cases where the tumor is well defined and has not spread to other parts of the body. Thanks to advances in surgical techniques is becoming increasingly feasible to remove the tumor without damaging healthy tissue or vital functions.
Operations with different objectives
Interventions can be made for different purposes:
*Preventive, when tissue is removed is not evil but is likely to become so.
*Diagnostics, to take a tissue sample can then analyze whether or not cancerous.
*Staging, to determine the extent of the disease.
*Healing, to remove the tumor completely. The intervention is often accompanied by other treatments of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or both.
*Reducers, is used to remove only part of the tumor, when you note that their complete removal may cause damage to organs and surrounding areas. The party has not been withdrawn will be treated using tumor after chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
*Palliative to treat complications associated with tumor progression. For example, to relieve a bowel obstruction resulting from cancer in the abdomen.
*Reparative and reconstructive. For example, when performing an operation to put a breast prosthesis after a mastectomy procedure in which you can get to empty a breast affected by a tumor.
For diagnostic purposes
Interventions for diagnostic (or to assess the extent of the tumor) are available a variety of techniques and medical instruments.
*A just cause discomfort to the patient and do not require anesthesia, as puncture-needle aspiration. To extract a sample of the tumor for analysis later. “Disadvantages? The amount of tissue is so small it does not always make an accurate diagnosis.
There is a belief that can help extend the tumor. But it is an unfounded fear because the probability that clicking with the needle can extend the tumor is extremely low.
*The biopsy is one of the most used techniques. It can be done with needles, but are common practice that after performing a small incision. In this case require anesthesia.