Important Things To Consider Before A Cancer Treatment

A cancer diagnosis comes as a shock to everyone. Fortunately, there are treatments available to help you beat cancer and go on with your life. The key to beating cancer is early detection and treatment. If you have received a diagnosis and need to begin treatment, here are some things to understand and consider.

THE GOAL OF YOUR CANCER TREATMENT

The type and severity of your cancer will determine the goal of your treatment. For some patients, one cancer treatment is enough, while for others, multiple treatments are necessary to ensure the cancer is effectively killed. Your oncologist will help you determine whether you need more than one type of treatment. Cancer treatment may be focused on achieving one or a combination of the following:

1.   Removing Localized Cancer Cells 

Your primary treatment will aim at killing localized cancer cells to stop their growth. Many cancers begin as tumors. If the tumor is removed early on, cancer doesn’t spread to other areas of the body. Removing cancer growths is not possible for all cases, especially late-stage cancers that have spread to other parts of the body.

2.   Preventing Cancer From Returning

Cancer can sometimes recur even if growth or tumor is removed. There could be some cancer cells that, if left untreated, could grow and spread. For this, your doctor may recommend radiation in the area to kill cancer cells left behind after surgery to remove the tumor.

In some cases, cancer has spread throughout the body before treatment is begun. As such, removing a localized growth will not remove all the cancer cells. For such situations, chemotherapy is used to weaken and kill cancer cells throughout the body.

3.   Relieving Symptoms 

If your cancer treatment will involve chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, laser therapy, or more, you may experience side effects and symptoms. Your doctor can help manage these symptoms and recommend other treatments to alleviate them. An example of this is palliative treatments.

THE RISKS AND BENEFITS OF GETTING CANCER TREATMENT

Part of oncology involves discussing the pros and cons of any cancer treatment. Of course, the main benefit of getting treatment is removing cancer and going into remission. However, sometimes, the chance of treatment success is too low for the risks to be worth it. Your doctor will discuss this with you, if applicable.

The most significant risk of any cancer treatment is the side effects. Some cancer treatments cause healthy cells to get damaged along with the cancer cells. This can cause white blood cells to decrease in number.

While side effects are common in cancer treatments, this shouldn’t deter you from getting treated. There are various things your doctor can do to provide relief from side effects, and as previously mentioned, palliative treatments can also help.

Cancer patients are also concerned about hospitalization and the disruption to their daily life. However, most patients can be treated on an outpatient basis. Advancements in cancer research have allowed many patients to lead full lives while getting treatment.

OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS YOU NEED TO CONSIDER

Aside from the goals, risks, and benefits, there are other important things you need to consider when getting cancer treatment. Cancer treatment can be costly. It will be helpful for you to identify what types of treatment your insurance company will cover and which ones you will have to pay out of pocket.

It will also help to plan ahead of your treatment. You will most likely need to take a break from work, so inform your boss and co-workers ahead of time. If you have children or pets, you also need to consider who will care for them as you heal. Contact your relatives and friends to see who can help you while you get treatment.

It is also crucial to consider your mental health. Consult with a mental health professional before or during your treatment. You can talk to them about how the treatment affects you emotionally and mentally. They can provide you strategies for dealing with your anxiety about treatment.

CANCER TREATMENT OPTIONS IN WOOSTER, OH

We know how difficult undergoing cancer treatment can be. That’s why at Wooster Community Hospital, we walk our patients through every step of their treatment. Our team of medical professionals can provide you with all the information and support you need for your cancer treatment.

If you’re looking for comprehensive cancer care treatment, don’t hesitate to call us at (330) 262-2800. We are a public health institution, and we will do our best to help you with any financial concerns about treatment. You can also email us at contactus@wchosp.org if you want to learn more about our services. We look forward to being part of your road to recovery.