Treatment
Cancer care specialists at Physicians Regional Healthcare System provide a range of treatment options that are tailored to meet each patient’s individual needs. Doctors plan treatment by consulting with surgeons, chemotherapy and radiation specialists to develop the most effective approach. In most cases, several approaches are combined to provide treatment.
Part of the care program at Physicians Regional Healthcare System includes special support services to address the unique needs of cancer patients and their families. The multidisciplinary team includes primary care doctors, oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, nurses, pain management specialists, dietitians and other professionals who work together to provide individualized care.
Treatment options include:
- Chemotherapy
Also known as medical oncology or hematology, chemotherapy uses chemicals to destroy or slow the growth of cancer cells. Surgeons often use chemotherapy in conjunction with surgery to destroy surrounding tissue after a tumor is removed.
- Hormone therapy
Hormones can kill cancer cells, or slow or stop their growth. Doctors can prescribe medications that affect the activity or production of hormones, or may surgically remove a gland that produces hormones.
- Radiation therapy
Radiation oncologists target radiation to destroy cancer cells and minimize damage to healthy, surrounding tissue. Doctors utilize a range of techniques to fit the needs of each patient, including:
- Brachytherapy - Small catheters (thin, flexible tubes) are used to administer high doses of radioactive sources directly into cancerous tissue. Brachytherapy can deliver a higher total dose of radiation over a shorter period of time than external-beam techniques. This method is often used to treat prostate, breast, cervical and lung cancer.
Surgery
Cancer care teams at Physicians Regional Healthcare System carefully evaluate each patient’s needs to determine whether surgery offers the best chance for success. When surgery presents the best option, doctors utilize minimally invasive techniques whenever possible, which may allow greater precision and may offer patients less scarring and a faster recovery.
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