Contrary to popular belief, the term “cancer” doesn’t refer to one type of disease, but rather to a large group of diseases. Different types of cancers happen when cells suddenly divide quickly and abnormally, and they can spread to other tissues and organs. Whereas normal cells divide and grow normally, cancer cells go a bit crazy.
To distinguish one form of cancer from another, it is named for the organ in which it originated and the type of cell it is made of. For instance, a cancer that starts in the pancreas and then spreads to the liver or lungs is called metastatic (spreading) pancreatic cancer.
Also, there are general types of cancers identified by their clinical names. These include:
- Carcinoma, which is a cancer that begins in the skin or tissues that line other organs
- Sarcoma, which is a cancer of connective tissues including the bones, muscles, and cartilage
- Leukemia, in which there is an overabundance of white blood cells
- Lymphoma, which is a cancer of the immune system
- Myeloma, which is a bone-marrow cancer
Treatment for the Various Cancers
Depending on the type of cancer you have and its stage, treatment is geared toward achieving different objectives. Your doctor’s approach may range from primary treatment (killing the cancer cells) to adjuvant treatment (killing cancer cells that persist after primary treatment) to palliative treatment (relieving the symptoms) to curing the disease.
There are many treatments for the different forms of cancer, and these treatments include:
- Invasive surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible
- Chemotherapy aimed at killing cancer cells using medication
- Immunotherapy in the form of antibodies that boost your immune system
- Stem cell transplant to repair diseased tissues
- Alternative medicine such as acupuncture, massage, and relaxation techniques, to decrease cancer symptoms including pain, fatigue, and nausea
- Radiation therapy in which beams of radiant energy are used to destroy cancer cells
The effectiveness of these treatment options often depends on the type of cancer you have. The problem with surgery is that it can lead to complications, such as infections and problems during healing. Both chemotherapy and traditional radiation therapy come with unwanted side effects and can potentially damage healthy tissues and organs.
What Treatment Is Most Effective at Fighting Cancer?
If you’re looking to treat your cancer without surgery, a wonderfully effective alternative is CyberKnife®. This incredible radiation-based technology uses advanced, image-guided robotics to precisely target the tumor and bombard it with high doses of radiation, killing the cancer cells.
The procedure is so accurate and state-of-the-art that it automatically adjusts to the slightest body movement, thereby fixing its sights exclusively on the tumor. CyberKnife destroys cancer cells without affecting nearby tissues or organs.
Cancer Treatment Clinic in Miami
CyberKnife is a safe, pain-free, yet highly effective treatment for virtually all types of cancers. It has minimal, if any, side effects and requires no downtime. Unlike traditional radiation therapy, all it requires is three to five treatments lasting 30 to 60 minutes each, and you’re done in usually less than a week.
If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer and are looking for the most convenient and comfortable form of effective treatment, learn more about CyberKnife cancer radiation treatment.
Contact our friendly team at the CyberKnife Center of Miami today by calling us at (800) 204-0455 or (305) 279-2900 to find out how this approach would work for your type of cancer. You can also use our online form to request a private consultation. We will be happy to answer all of your questions and discuss your cancer treatment options. www.cyberknifemiami.com