What are the different kinds of cancer treatment?
The three most common types of cancer treatment are surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Treatment is aimed at removing the cancer cells or destroying them with medicines or by other means.
Surgery
Surgery is a way to physically remove the cancer. Surgery can be very successful in treating some kinds of cancer, but it isn't an option in all cases. If the cancer is in the form of a malignant tumor (a tumor that spreads) but the tumor is still in one place (localized), it may be possible to safely remove the tumor and any surrounding affected tissue. Surgery may not be possible if the cancer has spread to other areas of the body or if the tumor cannot be removed without damaging vital organs, such as the liver or brain.
Different types of surgery are used to remove cancer. Some of these include:
Laser surgery. Beams of light and sometimes heat from a laser are used to target and destroy cancer cells.
Laparoscopic surgery. Very small incisions are made in the body, and the doctor uses a tiny camera to see inside your body. The camera sends signals to a video screen so that your doctor can see the tumor and your organs. The doctor uses a surgical tool to remove the tumor.
Mohs’ surgery. Layers of cancer cells are removed one at a time. Each layer is examined before the doctor removes the next layer. In this way, only the diseased layers are removed and healthy tissue remains intact.
Cryosurgery. Cancer cells are frozen and destroyed using a very cold material, such as liquid nitrogen.