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Treatments

  • HomeDr. Kunal Arora

What are interventions in cancer?

Interventions in cancer encompass a wide range of procedures and treatments aimed at diagnosing, treating, and managing cancer. These interventions can be broadly categorized into diagnostic, therapeutic, palliative, and supportive procedures.

What are the common types of cancer interventions?

Diagnostic Interventions

  • 1. Biopsies
  • Needle Biopsy: Involves using a needle to extract a small sample of tissue for examination under a microscope.
  • Core Needle Biopsy: Uses a larger needle to remove a core of tissue.
  • Surgical Biopsy: Involves removing a portion (incisional biopsy) or all (excisional biopsy) of a suspicious lump or tissue.
  • 2. Imaging Techniques
  • X-ray: Often used as an initial imaging technique.
  • Computed Tomography (CT) Scan: Provides detailed cross-sectional images of the body.
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Uses magnetic fields to produce detailed images, particularly useful for soft tissues.
  • Ultrasound: Utilizes sound waves to create images of internal organs.
  • Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan: Helps to detect metabolic activity of cells, often combined with CT (PET-CT) for more detailed imaging.
  • 3. Endoscopic Procedures
  • Colonoscopy: Examines the colon and rectum for abnormalities.
  • Bronchoscopy: Examines the airways and lungs.
  • Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS): Combines endoscopy and ultrasound to obtain images and tissue samples from the digestive tract and surrounding tissues.

Therapeutic Interventions

  • 1. Surgical Interventions
  • Curative Surgery: Removes the tumor and some surrounding healthy tissue.
  • Debulking Surgery: Removes as much of the tumor as possible when complete removal is not feasible.
  • Palliative Surgery: Relieves symptoms or improves quality of life without attempting to cure the disease.
  • 2. Radiation Therapy
  • External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT): Directs radiation from outside the body onto the tumor.
  • Internal Radiation Therapy (Brachytherapy): Places radioactive materials inside or near the tumor.
  • 3. Chemotherapy
  • Systemic Chemotherapy: Uses drugs that travel through the bloodstream to reach and destroy cancer cells throughout the body.
  • Regional Chemotherapy: Delivers drugs directly to the area where the cancer is located.
  • 4. Targeted Therapy
  • Uses drugs that target specific molecules involved in cancer cell growth and survival, such as HER2 inhibitors or tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
  • 5. Immunotherapy
  • Stimulates the body's immune system to fight cancer, including checkpoint inhibitors, CAR T-cell therapy, and monoclonal antibodies.
  • 6. Hormone Therapy
  • Blocks or lowers the amount of hormones in the body to slow or stop the growth of hormone-sensitive tumors, commonly used in breast and prostate cancers.

Palliative Interventions

  • 1. Pain Management
  • Nerve Blocks: Injections that block pain signals from specific nerves.
  • Palliative Radiation Therapy: Aims to relieve pain or other symptoms caused by cancer.
  • 2. Symptom Relief
  • Ascites Drainage: Removes fluid buildup in the abdomen.
  • Pleural Effusion Drainage: Removes fluid around the lungs.
  • 3. Nutritional Support
  • Enteral Feeding (Tube Feeding): Provides nutrition through a tube directly into the stomach or small intestine.
  • Parenteral Nutrition: Provides nutrition intravenously.

Supportive Interventions

  • 1. Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplants
  • Replaces damaged or destroyed bone marrow with healthy bone marrow stem cells.
  • 2. Rehabilitation Services
  • Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy to help patients recover function and improve quality of life.
  • 3. Psychosocial Support
  • Counseling, support groups, and other services to help patients and families cope with the emotional and psychological aspects of cancer.

Emerging and Experimental Interventions

  • 1. Gene Therapy
  • Involves modifying or manipulating genes to treat or prevent cancer.
  • 2. Personalized Medicine
  • Tailors treatment based on the genetic profile of the patient and their tumor.
  • 3. Oncolytic Virus Therapy
  • Uses genetically modified viruses to infect and kill cancer cells.

What are benefits of interventions in cancer?

  • Increased Survival Rates: Early detection and effective treatment strategies contribute to improved survival rates and long-term remission for many cancers.
  • Improved Quality of Life: Comprehensive symptom management and supportive care interventions ensure better quality of life during and after cancer treatment.
  • Reduced Side Effects: Targeted therapies and minimally invasive procedures minimize collateral damage to healthy tissues, reducing the side effects associated with traditional treatments.
  • Holistic Care: Integrating psychosocial support, rehabilitation, and palliative care ensures that all aspects of a patient’s well-being are addressed.