Learning about Cancer

The best way to advocate for your health care is to become actively involved - and that starts with gaining knowledge. The information on these pages can help you get started.

You can read the Questions & Answers, look up unfamiliar terms in the Glossary, review the Screening Guidelines as well as the Treatment and Support options and follow the useful links for further information.

Screening and Early Detection

The good news is that most cancers can be effectively treated if detected early. Naturally, you'll want to maximize your chances for success - and that means taking an active role as you work with your medical team.

At Commonwealth Atrius Cancer Center, we're committed to early detection and screening programs for breast, colon, rectal, prostate, cervical, skin, and other cancers. Screening typically involves four steps: a brief history to identify your cancer risk profile, a physical examination, appropriate screening tests, and education that promotes positive lifestyle changes that can reduce your cancer risk. For the program best suited to you, please check with your physician.

Different Kinds of Cancer Treatment

At Commonwealth Atrius Cancer Center, we coordinate the best treatment plan available for your disease. Because every patient is different, treatments differ: we customize your care accordingly. Therapies may be administered separately or in various combinations. Please read the following brief descriptions of available cancer treatments - it's important for you to be familiar with them. For more information about any of these, ask your Commonwealth Atrius Cancer Center physician or nurse. We want you to become as educated as possible, so that you can play an active role in making decisions about your care.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses medicines to kill cancer cells in the body and stop further growth or spread. It is often used in conjunction with surgery and/or radiation therapy, and may be administered by mouth (orally), through a vein (IV), or in a muscle (IM). Treatment schedules vary, with some chemotherapies given daily, some weekly, and some every three or four weeks. Chemotherapy treatment is individualized; therefore, not every cancer patient will receive the same drugs. Your physician will determine which drugs are right for you.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy targets a specific area of cancer using high-energy X-rays, directed at the cancer site to destroy or shrink tumors. Radiation therapy is often used in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy. Usually, radiation is administered on an outpatient basis. Occasionally, "internal" radiation (brachytherapy) is necessary, in which case a radioactive seed is implanted directly in the tumor or in a body cavity.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy works to combat cancer by enhancing the body's immune system, which naturally fights disease. Many of the body's own natural disease-fighting agents can now be produced in laboratories; immunotherapy uses these man-made agents in treating cancer. They include growth factors, which are used to stimulate the growth and function of blood cells, and antibodies, which assist white blood cells in killing cancer cells.

Surgery

Surgery is a major component of the treatment plan for most patients. Some operations are used to diagnose the specific kind of cancer and to determine its extent. Whenever possible, surgery is also used to remove the cancer. Your doctor at Commonwealth Atrius Cancer Center works closely with your surgeon both before and after surgery to be sure you receive the best possible treatment.

Biological Therapy

We are gaining a better understanding of the basic genetic and biochemical mechanisms involved in the development of cancer cells as a result of intensive international research efforts. This has led to the development of new biological therapies that are targeted at the specific abnormalities in difference cancers and blood diseases.

Clinical Trials

New drugs and treatments are constantly being developed with the goal of curing more patients. These new drugs and treatments need to be tested with patients to see if they are safe and effective. Accordingly, we make clinical trials available to our patients, but participation is entirely voluntary.