Cancer Overview

There are many different treatments for cancer and you may be treated with one or several of them by your doctor(s). Treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormones, and immunotherapy. Chemotherapy medications may be given by mouth, by injection, or infused.

The word 'chemotherapy' was once used to describe any medicine used to treat any disease. Today the term is mostly used to describe medicines that treat cancers. Oral chemotherapy medications are taken at home as prescribed by your doctor. But many newer medications are used to treat not just cancer but other diseases. Also, some medications prescribed are to help prevent or treat the side effects caused by other medications. Growth factors are an example of immunotherapy and they act by helping the cells of the body grow. Some examples of these medications are erythropoietin, GM-CSF, interleukin and interferon. Patients with diseases other than cancer benefit from this group of medications.

What is Cancer? It can mean different things for different people. Cancer is caused by something going wrong in a cell which causes it to grow out of control and spread cells that are not healthy. If left alone and not treated, the cancer will spread and may result in death. Cancers are caused by many things. About 5-10% of cancers are passed down through genes. Most cancers, though, are caused by mutations (changes) to the genes. The mutations are from damage caused by internal factors, such as hormones, or external factors, for example chemicals, tobacco, radiation, and organisms that cause infections.

Anyone can get cancer, but the risk increases as we get older. Most cancers develop in middle-age or older adults. About 10 million Americans that were alive in 2002 were noted to have a history of cancer. In 2006 the number of new cancer cases is expected to be over one million. A million cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in 2006. After heart disease cancer is the second most common cause of death in the United States.

Living with Cancer

If you are receiving oncology treatments:

• Know your medications and their side effects.
• Report any side effects you feel to your doctor right away.
• Know that you have a right to control your pain.
• If you have questions ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Learning about your treatment is important so that you can manage medication side effects and take part in your everyday life. To learn more about cancer, please visit: www.cancer.org or www.cancersociety.com.

Healthy Pointers:

• Eat a wide variety of foods, focus on fruits and vegetables.
• Drink enough fluids.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Stay active with regular exercise and hobbies.
• See your doctor regularly.

Questions? Call us at 1.888.282.5166 or email us.

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