Treatment > Medical Oncology > Medical Therapies to Treat Cancer

Medical Therapies to Treat Cancer

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy refers to anti-cancer drugs that are injected into a vein or given as a pill. These drugs enter the bloodstream and reach throughout the body, making the treatment useful for cancers that could potentially, or may have already, spread to distant organs beyond the site of the original tumor. Chemotherapy may involve the combination or sequence of numerous drugs, since varying types of cancer cells are sensitive to different types of medications. While undergoing chemotherapy patients often experience fatigue. However, if patients experience other symptoms, they should call a physician or nurse right away. See When to Call - A Guide to Understanding Symptoms from Chemotherapy to learn more.

Immunotherapy or Biologic Therapy
Immunotherapy refers to treatments that boost the body's own defense system to help fight off or destroy cancer cells. This therapy may involve the use of artificial antibodies produced in a laboratory or proteins and other agents naturally produced by the body.

Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy involves treatment with hormones or drugs that interfere with hormone production or activity to attack cancer cells or slow the growth of harmful cells.