Altru providers believe transparency and a multidisciplinary approach to
cancer treatment paves the way for better outcomes. From the moment of
your diagnosis, our team will educate you on your options and work with
you to understand your individual goals with cancer treatment. Our team
of experts will collaborate to put together an individualized treatment
plan based on your overall health, type of cancer, stage of cancer and
other needs.
While this plan will outline what types of treatment you undergo, it also
encompasses the care and services designed to help you navigate the entire
process, including the
side effects of treatment. A designated patient navigator will serve as your guide to connect you
with assistance within Altru and extending to outside services and
financial assistance when needed.
Chemotherapy
We often think of
chemotherapy only as a cancer treatment. But chemotherapy is actually the name for
any type of medication to treat a disease.
Chemotherapy, when used to treat cancer, is a type of medication that aims
to eradicate or shrink cancer in the body. When a person undergoes chemotherapy
for cancer, the medication travels throughout the body, killing any cancer
cells it encounters. It even destroys cancer cells that have metastasized,
or traveled, from the original site.
At Altru Cancer Center, chemotherapy is administered by chemotherapy-trained
nurses under the direction of medical oncologists. Often provided on an
outpatient basis, chemotherapy is usually administered intravenously.
In many cases, chemotherapy is used in conjunction with another type of
treatment, working in combination to rid your body of cancer cells.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy medications use the immune system to target and kill or suppress
cancer cells. Side effects can vary, depending on the medication. Your
oncology care team will explain what to expect and how side effects will
be treated. Altru Cancer Center offers many oncologic immunotherapy medications
for various cancers.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is another common treatment option for many types of cancer. It involves
the use of high-energy particles to eradicate cancer cells in the body.
Careful protocols and procedures are in place to ensure the radiation used
for treatment targets cancer cells while leaving surrounding organs and
tissues untouched as much as possible.
There are two main types of radiation therapy: internal and external beam.
The type you receive will depend on a number of factors, including the
type of cancer you have and its severity.
Clinical Trials
Altru Cancer Center has long been a pioneer in
clinical trials for cancer. Since 1977, we have partnered with Mayo Clinic Cancer Center and the
National Cancer Institute to offer our patients access to clinical trials
related to researching advancements in cancer treatment.
Clinical trials are used to determine whether a new medical treatment can
be used safely and efficiently on humans. These trials uphold high safety
standards and can often provide patients with advanced treatment options
they would not otherwise have access to.
To enroll in a clinical trial, patients must meet specific criteria, so
if you want to explore options, please speak with your team of providers.
Other Types of Cancer Treatment
While chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the most common types of cancer
treatment, they aren’t the only ones. Your treatment and care may
include other treatment modalities, such as surgery, to fully eradicate cancer.
At Altru Cancer Center, our medical oncologists provide expert care in
the fields of chemotherapy, hormone therapy and biologic therapy.
Hormone therapy involves the use of natural substances that inhibit cancer growth, and
it is given to patients in a pill form.
Biologic therapy stimulates the body’s immune system to fight infection.
These treatments can be used alongside surgery and radiation therapy to
combat cancer. Our medical oncology staff reviews and monitors each patient
on an individual basis to provide them with a personalized and effective
treatment plan.
