Hormone therapy
Some cancers depend on a supply of hormones for their growth. The most common example of this in women is breast cancer and in men is prostate cancer, which needs testosterone in order to grow: without it, many tumours will shrink. Hormone therapy may therefore be recommended, which for prostate cancer takes the form of treatment either with hormones, or with drugs which interfere with the production or action of testosterone.
Hormone therapy is not used for the majority of cancers. As with all cancer treatments, any side-effects will depend upon the type of hormone therapy used, and if it is proposed for you, then your doctors will explain to you any side-effects which you might expect.
Biological therapy
There are hopes that various forms of biological therapy – and particularly those which help to stimulate the body’s own immune system – may produce effective new treatments in the future, but research is still at a relatively early stage in most cases. It is hoped that in the future, treatments based on substances produced by the body – such as certain antibodies and interferons (substances produced by the immune system which have the ability to inhibit viral growth) – may be developed to supplement and complement existing treatments. For example, research continues to work on ‘magic bullet’ techniques, in which certain antibodies (known as monoclonal antibodies) carry cell-poisoning drugs or radioactive isotopes directly to cancer cells while leaving normal cells alone.
cancer treatments
Alternative and complementary therapies
Forms of so-called ‘alternative’ therapy such as herbal, vitamin and dietary treatments, acupuncture and the use of homeopathic remedies are not yet proven as cancer treatments as they have not yet proven beneficial in the same lengthy and rigorous testing and trial processes as conventional cancer treatments. However, all doctors know that some drugs used today are based on traditional remedies or plant extracts – including some heart drugs and some anti-cancer drugs. A good doctor will be open-minded and, once tests prove an ‘alternative’ remedy to be effective, there is no reason why it should not enter ‘mainstream’ medicine.
Even before that, some alternative therapies may hold consider-able attraction given the nature of conventional cancer treatments, and there are increasing numbers of practitioners of non-conventional medicine. Some people find that they do derive some benefit from undergoing alternative therapies, and claims have been made
for the effectiveness of, for example, certain homeopathic remedies
in boosting the strength of the immune system. There is as yet no
concrete evidence (as recognized by the conventional medical
profession) that any alternative therapy will contribute to the success
of a conventional cancer treatment, but if it contributes to your overall well-being, then there may be a strong motivation to consider
it. It is very important to consult your oncologist before embarking
on any complementary treatment, and to appreciate that alternative therapies do not aim to replicate the effects of conventional
treatments.
On another level, you may find therapies such as massage, aromatherapy and relaxation techniques (which do not claim any specific healing properties) may still be beneficial to your overall well-being. Massage of areas of tension such as the shoulders can promote physical and mental relaxation. Learning breathing or visualization techniques which help your mind to slow down and let go of your worries for a short time can also be helpful. You may well find that classes are organized by your hospital, or that staff can provide you with information about useful contacts. Again, it is wise to check with your doctor before undergoing any physical therapies, in case they aggravate certain physical symptoms.
‘Prevention is better than cure’
Most of us are well aware of preventive measures which can help to reduce the risk of developing certain cancers. If you, as a reader, are already living with cancer then you might feel ‘This doesn’t apply to me – I’ve already got cancer’ and feel disinclined to be lectured about your lifestyle and behaviour, past or present. This is not a lecture, nor does it assume a right to tell people how to live their lives. It is simply a reminder that some of the main contributing ‘behavioural’ factors to certain types of cancer are smoking, excessive exposure to sunlight, alcohol and a low-fibre, high-fat diet. It is also unwise to dismiss the relevance of attendance at screening programmes, if appropriate.
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