Question

Mention any four methods involved in the treatment of cancer.

Answer 1

Four methods involved in the treatment of cancer are:

1. Surgical removal: This involves cutting out the primary cancerous growth along with adjacent tissues and local lymph glands where the cancer may have spread. It is applicable for cancers in sites like breasts, bowel, lungs, kidneys, testes, womb, ovaries, bones, and skin, but not brain.
2. Radiotherapy: This uses X-rays or other forms of radioactivity to destroy cancer cells. Cancer cells, being abnormal and rapidly growing, are more susceptible to low levels of radiation, while normal cells remain largely undamaged. Radiotherapy can sometimes be the only practical treatment, especially for certain cases like skin or breast cancer.
3. Chemotherapy: This involves the use of cytotoxic drugs that destroy cancer cells without severely damaging normal cells, though excessive doses can harm normal cells as well. It has been successful for cancers such as Hodgkin's disease, some leukemias, and certain rare cancers.
4. Immunotherapy: This treatment uses biological response modifiers like α-interferon to activate the immune system and help destroy tumor cells.

These methods aim to remove or destroy cancer cells before the disease spreads extensively. Early treatment usually results in better outcomes.