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Not all cancers are the same.

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There are
over 200 different types of cancer,

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each named after the tissue or organ
where they develop.

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And even patients
with the same type of cancer

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might have different types of tumor.

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So there isn’t
just ONE type of cancer therapy either.

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Doctors adjust treatment

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to each individual’s specific situation
depending on:

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• the type of cancer

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• the biological properties
of the cancer cells

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• the spread of the disease

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• and the general state of health
of the cancer patient.

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Knowing the therapeutic goal is important

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when choosing the treatment:

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• Is the goal
to cure the patient of cancer?

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If so, this is referred to
as “curative therapy”.

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• Or is the cancer at an advanced stage
so a cure is no longer possible?

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If so, palliative therapy can be used

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to stop the cancer from growing.

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Therapies may not just have benefits
for patients;

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they may also involve risks
and side effects.

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This needs to be weighed up
by the doctor and patient together

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before deciding on the treatment.

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There are many
conventional methods available

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for treating cancer.

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They are generally used in combination:

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• Surgery

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In most cases the goal is
to remove a localized cancer

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but may also in rare cases be
to remove individual metastases.

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• Chemotherapy inhibits
the growth of cancer cells.

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It can be used, for example,
to shrink tumors to a size

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that allows them to be surgically removed,

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or to kill off any cancer cells left
after surgery

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to increase the chances of recovery.

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If metastases are present,
palliative chemotherapy

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can inhibit the progression of the disease.

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• Radiotherapy
uses radiation to kill off cancer cells.

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It is mostly carried out
pre- or post-operatively

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to improve the chances of recovery.

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Palliative radiotherapy may be carried out

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to inhibit the growth of metastases

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and relieve debilitating symptoms.

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• Targeted therapies use drugs

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to target biological features of the tumor

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which play a role
in the growth of the cancer.

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The treatment only works in cancers

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which have these specific features.

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So they are only used in certain patients.

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There are various types of immunotherapy,
but they all activate

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the body’s own immune system
to fight cancer cells.

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They are mostly used
to treat advanced stages of cancer

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where studies have shown them
to be effective.

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Supportive treatments include

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treatments
for alleviating symptoms or side effects.

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They may include, for example,
medication for

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• nausea

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• or pain,

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• but also nutritional therapy,

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• physiotherapy

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• or psychotherapy.

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In short:

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Every cancer is different.

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So an individual treatment plan is created
for each cancer patient

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from the range of treatment methods
available.

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This involves carefully weighing up

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the benefits and risks of the treatment.