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Treating cancer through the use of chemicals, hormones or biological
products is the focus of medical oncology. This ever-evolving field
continues to be shaped by advances in science and technology that
are spawning diagnostic and therapeutic breakthroughs in chemotherapy,
hormone therapy, biotherapy or immunotherapy and targeted cancer
therapies.
At the Leon Hess Cancer Center, these cancer-fighting medications
and therapies are delivered by medical oncologists during the complete
course of treatment. Many times, they also direct patients through
the pathways of the entire cancer experience, providing supportive
care and coordinating treatment offered by other specialists as
part of the center’s interdisciplinary approach to cancer
care.
Possessing the expertise to provide
cancer care for adults, our board-certified medical oncologists
are experienced in every phase of cancer treatment management,
including planning, coordination and collaboration. They work closely
with radiation oncologists and surgical oncologists to ensure patients
receive the most effective treatment — whether it involves
one or more cancer therapies, given simultaneously or concurrently.
In addition, our medical oncologists are supported by highly skilled
nurses and other allied health professionals in both outpatient and inpatient
settings to provide individualized care that meets the medical,
physical and psychological needs of patients before, during and
after treatment.
By remaining at the forefront of ongoing research in
novel cancer therapies, these physicians participate in numerous
national clinical trials of promising new and experimental medical
treatments.
Therapies in medical oncology do not involve surgery or radiation ,
although they can be used together with those modalities as part
of the total cancer treatment regimens.
It is important to remember that determining a treatment plan
is based upon various factors, including the stage, location and
extent of the cancer. Patients are strongly encouraged to explore
all their treatment options and discuss them with their physicians
before making this decision.
To help you better understand a cancer diagnosis, treatment and
recovery, the Saint Barnabas Health Care System’s “Patient
Education for Cancer-Related Treatment” booklet ( pdf -
1 MB) offers a clear, concise overview of medical and radiation
oncologic treatments of the disease and the side effects that may
result from these forms of therapy.
is the treatment of cancer with
powerful drugs that destroy cancer cells, stop their growth or
alleviate cancer pain. It involves administering one or more “anti-cancer
drugs” intravenously, by injection into a body cavity,
or orally in pill or liquid form.
Additional information on chemotherapy is available from the National
Cancer Institute, National
Comprehensive Cancer Network and American
Cancer Society.
is the use of medication
to block or interfered with the production of hormones, the naturally
occurring substances in the body that fuel certain cancers such
as breast, prostate and endometrial cancer. This drug treatment
keeps cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow — primarily
estrogen in women, and progesterone and testosterone in men.
Additional information on hormonal therapy is available from the National
Cancer Institute, National
Comprehensive Cancer Network and American
Cancer Society.
, also called immunotherapy and biological
therapy, is a pioneering cancer treatment that helps the immune
system fight cancer. Biological response modifiers that include
proteins, antibodies, vaccines and blood-cell stimulators are used
to stimulate the production of white blood cells — the body’s
first line of protection again infection and disease — to
stop or slow the growth of cancer cells.
Additional information on biotherapy is available from the National
Cancer Institute, National
Comprehensive Cancer Network and American
Cancer Society.
utilize drugs that block
the growth of cancer by focusing on changes in the molecules and
cells that are specific to cancer. Recent advances in research
have led to the development of several different types of targeted
therapies that are designed to treat only cancer cells and minimize
damage to normal healthy cells.
Additional information on targeted therapies is available from
the National Cancer
Institute, National
Comprehensive Cancer Network and American
Cancer Society.
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