Cancer Treatment Options Abound for Cancer Patients

Whenever the word “cancer” is mentioned, many people jump to the conclusion that chemotherapy is the only treatment option available. This could not be further from the truth. Chemotherapy is one of the many treatments available for cancer and is often used in a combination of treatments, or not used at all. While the main treatment of cancer may have been chemotherapy in the past, new technology and further research are continuing to allow for evolving cancer care options in Nevada and around the world. At Sierra Nevada Cancer Center, a few methods are used to treat cancer. Biological therapies, cancer vaccines, and immunotherapy are all used as effective treatments of cancer — in addition to chemotherapy. This post will provide a broad description of a few of these treatment options. But remember: Your oncologist will determine your best course of treatment based on your specific cancer and history. Biological Therapies Biological therapies are therapies that use your body’s natural defense system to fight cancer itself, the effects of cancer or the effects of other treatments of cancer. The National Cancer Institute further explains biological therapies: “Biological therapy involves the use of living organisms, substances derived from living organisms, or laboratory-produced versions of such substances to treat disease.” Dr. Jorge Perez, MD, PhD, MRCP, MRCPath, and his staff at Sierra Nevada Cancer Center keep themselves well-versed on the latest and most effective treatments of cancer available, like biological therapies, to bring better cancer care in Nevada. Cancer Vaccines Cancer vaccines can be used in the treatment of cancer to stimulate or repair parts of your body’s immune system to promote the defense against cancer or your body’s ability to fight cancer itself. There are two kinds of cancer vaccines: preventative vaccines and treatment vaccines. • Preventative vaccines are designed to protect individuals from getting cancer by vaccinating them against diseases and viruses that could lead to cancer, like human papillomavirus (HPV). • Treatment vaccines treat existing cancer by strengthening the body’s ability to fight cancer cells. Immunotherapy Immunotherapy is a kind of biological therapy that aims to teach your immune system to specifically target cancer cells or to give a general boost to your immune system. Immunotherapy can be effective to treat certain kinds of cancer, like lung cancer, on its own, but is typically used in conjunction with other kinds of cancer treatment. “In the last few decades immunotherapy has become an important part of treating some types of cancer,” reports the American Cancer Society.“Newer types of immune treatments are now being studied, and they’ll impact how we will treat cancer in the future.” Chemotherapy Chemotherapy remains one of the most effective treatments of cancer available. The American Cancer Institute outlineshow chemotherapy can be used in conjunction with other treatments for cancer: “When used with other treatments, chemotherapy can: • Make a tumor smaller before surgery or radiation therapy. This is called neoadjuvant chemotherapy. • Destroy cancer cells that may remain after treatment with surgery or radiation therapy. This is called adjuvant chemotherapy. • Help other treatments work better. • Kill cancer cells that have returned or spread to other parts of your body.” Dr.Perez is dedicated to offering comprehensive cancer care in Nevada. If you would like more information about Sierra Nevada Cancer Center or the various treatments of cancer they offer, please visit sierranevadacancer.com.