Types of Cancer and Treatment: A Comprehensive Guide from Surabaya

Surabaya – Cancer is a disease that is the second leading cause of death in the world. Here are the types of cancer and how to treat them.

This disease does not cause symptoms at first. Therefore, most cancers are only detected when they have reached an advanced stage.

Cancer is a disease caused by genetic changes or mutations in cells. This causes abnormal cells to grow uncontrollably in the body, which can spread and damage normal cells in other parts of the body.

Human cells can become old or damaged. Then the old cells die and then grow, form new cells and reproduce according to the needs of the body (regeneration).

But sometimes the process becomes disorganized when damaged (abnormal) cells grow and multiply. These cells then form tumors or tissue lumps that are benign or malignant. This malignant tumor is a cancer cell.

Quoting the Eka Hospital website, genetic mutations can be inherited or occur after birth as a result of environmental factors as external causes. These external causes (carcinogens) include radiation and ultraviolet (UV) light, cigarette smoke, alcohol, air pollution, and contaminated food and drink, viruses, bacteria, and parasites.

According to WHO, about 33 percent of cancer deaths are caused by tobacco, alcohol, high body mass index (BMI), low fruit and vegetable consumption, and not doing enough physical activity.

Cancer:

1. Types of Cancer

Until now, it is known that there are more than 100 types of cancer that have been recognized. A doctor and founder of the Indonesian Cancer Museum-YKW, dr. Ananto Sidohutomo, MARS, said that various types of cancer are generally given names according to the names of the organs and body tissues that are affected by the cancer cells.

• Cancer of the head and neck. For example head and neck cancer, laryngeal cancer, and nasopharyngeal cancer.
• Cancer of the oral cavity and throat
• Cancer in the digestive system. For example liver cancer, anal cancer, stomach cancer, and colon cancer (colorectal).
• Cancer in the urinary system. For example bladder cancer, kidney cancer or Wilms tumor.
• Lung cancer. For example lung cancer, and lung carcinoid tumors.
• Cancer in the breast. For example breast cancer.
• Cancer in the reproductive system. For example cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine sarcoma, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, penile cancer.
• Cancer in the endocrine system. For example adrenal cancer, thyroid cancer, and pituitary tumors.
• Cancer of the skin, eg melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, skin cancer, Kaposi’s sarcoma, lymphoma (lymph nodes) cancer.
• Cancer in bone and soft tissue. For example bone cancer, osteosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma cancer.
• Cancer in the eye For example, melanoma eye cancer, and retinoblastoma.
• Cancer in the brain and nervous system. For example brain cancer, neuroblastoma.
• Cancer in the blood and lymphatic system. For example leukemia, thymus cancer, and lymphoma.

2. Handling or Treatment of Cancer

dr. Ananto also explained that the treatment for cancer is not always the same. Each type and stage of cancer has a different treatment.

“The treatment for each type (cancer) is different. Even the same type (cancer) is treated differently because it also depends on the stage of the cancer,” said Dr. Ananto to detikJatim, Thursday (25/5/2023).

Treatment of cancer depends on the type and stage, potential side effects, and preferences and general health of the patient. Here are some ways to treat cancer, as quoted from the Ciputra Hospital website:

Operation

One of the most common ways of treating cancer is surgery. Surgery can be done before the cancer has spread.

This action is performed to remove cancer cells from the sufferer’s body. The type of surgery performed can range from conventional surgery using a scalpel to operations that do not involve incisions such as laser surgery, to operations using liquid nitrogen to freeze tissue.

according to dr. Ananto, surgery is the simplest way to treat cancer. Namely by removing cancerous tissue.

“The simplest (way of treatment) is to remove cancer tissue. One way is by operating,” he said.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment through biological therapy using tissue from living organisms, which helps the immune system to fight cancer.

The procedure is carried out by strengthening the immune system using white blood cells, as well as organs and tissues of the lymph system to fight cancer that is eating away at the body.

In addition, immunotherapy also helps the body fight infections and other diseases, which may easily perch on the body of a cancer patient.

Radiation Therapy or Radiotherapy

This therapy is a type of cancer treatment using high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. At high doses, radiation therapy kills cancer cells or slows their growth by damaging the DNA of cancer cells.

So it stops dividing or it dies. Automatically, the body will break down and dispose of cells that have been damaged and died earlier.

Meanwhile, radiation at low doses, which functions in X-ray examinations, to see inside the body such as X-rays of teeth or broken bones.

Radiation therapy does not kill cancer cells directly. However, it usually takes days or even weeks of treatment before the DNA is damaged and the cancer cells die.

This radiotherapy treatment is also often done after surgery to remove cancer tissue, to clean up the remnants of cancer cells.

Chemotherapy

This type of treatment is carried out by administering drugs to patients intravenously or orally. Usually, this treatment is given to prevent cancer cells from spreading, slow their growth, and reduce their size to kill cancer cells.

The types of drugs in chemotherapy are so diverse. The forms also vary, ranging from pills or capsules, drugs that are applied to the skin, to drugs that are given directly into a vein by injection or infusion in a hospital. The doctor will usually determine the type of treatment according to the patient’s condition.

Targeted Therapy

Targeted or targeted therapy is carried out together with the treatment of other types of cancer. This treatment works by entering the cancer cells that have been targeted, without damaging other healthy cells around them.

These drugs can tell the immune system to destroy cancer cells or change their proteins. So that cancer cells can die.

This drug also works like stopping the growth of blood vessels around cancer cells. Or turn off the signals that tell cancer cells to grow.

Hormone Therapy

Hormone therapy works to slow or stop cancer growth. Usually, this therapy is reserved for cancers whose growth involves hormones, such as breast and prostate cancer.

For symptoms of prostate cancer, this therapy is performed to relieve symptoms in patients who are unable to undergo surgery or radiation therapy.

Stem or Stem Cell Transplantation

Stem cell transplantation is a procedure aimed at restoring blood-forming stem cells in cancer patients, which have been destroyed by high-dose chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

This transplant treatment uses immature blood and bone marrow cells to replace cells in the bone marrow that have been damaged.

In addition, there are other ways of handling cancer patients, namely palliative care, as reported by Siloam Hospitals.

Palliative Care

Generally, this treatment is aimed at patients with severe conditions or who are unable to undergo other cancer treatments.

In patients with terminal cancer or cancer that has spread to other tissues or organs, this treatment is recommended for patients to relieve suffering or improve the patient’s quality of life.

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