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Shaw Cancer Center's medical oncologists specialize in treating cancer using systemic therapy such as chemotherapy, endocrine (hormonal) therapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapies (including anti-hormonal therapies). Chemotherapy are medications that destroy cancer cells by disrupting how cells divide. Often, it is the only treatment necessary; other times, cancer treatment plans may include chemotherapy plus surgery and/or radiation.
Medical Oncology
Treatments
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is administered either by mouth or through injection. Because the drugs are introduced into the blood stream, cancer drug therapy is considered a body-wide (or systemic) treatment option. Chemotherapy drug treatments are often accompanied by side effects like hair loss, nausea and fatigue as they affect normal cells too. Normal cells have intact repair mechanisms and come back. Cancer cells don’t and they die. The side effects vary based on the type of drugs being used, and from individual to individual. Different cancers are sensitive to different chemotherapy agents and regimens are different depending upon cancer times. Newer medications target cancerous cells more efficiently and may have fewer side effects.
Immunotherapy (Biologic Therapy)
immunotherapy (biologic therapy) are antibodies to either directly attack the cancer cells or enlist the help of the immune system to attack the cancer. The immune system is a network of cells, tissues and organs that work together to protect the body from infection. These antibodies are created in a lab to target proteins on the cancer cells. Certain types of immunotherapy directly attack cancer and slow its spread to other parts of the body. Other types make it easier for the immune system to destroy cancer cells. Your doctor may recommend immunotherapy after or at the same time as another treatment or immunotherapy may be used by itself. The physicians and team at Shaw work together to determine what the right treatment is for each individual and monitor patients closely through treatment.
Endocrine (Hormonal) Therapy
In certain types of cancers (some breast and prostate cancers), tumor growth can be stimulated by hormones that naturally occur in the body such as estrogen and progesterone in women and testosterone in men. Endocrine therapy, also known as hormonal therapy, involves medications, in the form of a pill or injection, given to block hormone production in the body to stop the growth of tumors and decrease the chance of a cancer recurrence. Anti hormonal can directly target cancers and shrink tumors. Anti-hormonal therapy can be given alone or in addition to other forms of treatment including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Our physicians determine if a patient may benefit from anti-hormonal therapy typically at the time of a cancer diagnosis.
Targeted Therapy
Cancer cells typically behave the way they do because of they have accumulated mutations that allow them to break the rules of normal cells. They grow, multiply and divide when they shouldn’t and they go places they do not belong. Sometimes we can identify specific mutations or receptors on the cells that drive the growth of a cancer. Medications have been developed that can target these mutations and we call them targeted therapies. Targeted therapies are typically pills that target specific mutations in the cancers cells that either drive the growth of the cancer or allow the cancer cells to become resistant to standard treatments, such as endocrine therapy or chemotherapy. Anti-hormone therapy is a form of targeted therapy in that they target hormone receptors on the cancer cells. Your doctor may recommend special testing on your cancer or even in a blood test that may identify mutations or receptors that may be used to target your cancer.
Chemotherapy is administered either by mouth or through injection. Because the drugs are introduced into the blood stream, cancer drug therapy is considered a body-wide (or systemic) treatment option. Chemotherapy drug treatments are often accompanied by side effects like hair loss, nausea and fatigue as they affect normal cells too. Normal cells have intact repair mechanisms and come back. Cancer cells don’t and they die. The side effects vary based on the type of drugs being used, and from individual to individual. Different cancers are sensitive to different chemotherapy agents and regimens are different depending upon cancer times. Newer medications target cancerous cells more efficiently and may have fewer side effects.
Immunotherapy (Biologic Therapy)
immunotherapy (biologic therapy) are antibodies to either directly attack the cancer cells or enlist the help of the immune system to attack the cancer. The immune system is a network of cells, tissues and organs that work together to protect the body from infection. These antibodies are created in a lab to target proteins on the cancer cells. Certain types of immunotherapy directly attack cancer and slow its spread to other parts of the body. Other types make it easier for the immune system to destroy cancer cells. Your doctor may recommend immunotherapy after or at the same time as another treatment or immunotherapy may be used by itself. The physicians and team at Shaw work together to determine what the right treatment is for each individual and monitor patients closely through treatment.
Endocrine (Hormonal) Therapy
In certain types of cancers (some breast and prostate cancers), tumor growth can be stimulated by hormones that naturally occur in the body such as estrogen and progesterone in women and testosterone in men. Endocrine therapy, also known as hormonal therapy, involves medications, in the form of a pill or injection, given to block hormone production in the body to stop the growth of tumors and decrease the chance of a cancer recurrence. Anti hormonal can directly target cancers and shrink tumors. Anti-hormonal therapy can be given alone or in addition to other forms of treatment including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Our physicians determine if a patient may benefit from anti-hormonal therapy typically at the time of a cancer diagnosis.
Targeted Therapy
Cancer cells typically behave the way they do because of they have accumulated mutations that allow them to break the rules of normal cells. They grow, multiply and divide when they shouldn’t and they go places they do not belong. Sometimes we can identify specific mutations or receptors on the cells that drive the growth of a cancer. Medications have been developed that can target these mutations and we call them targeted therapies. Targeted therapies are typically pills that target specific mutations in the cancers cells that either drive the growth of the cancer or allow the cancer cells to become resistant to standard treatments, such as endocrine therapy or chemotherapy. Anti-hormone therapy is a form of targeted therapy in that they target hormone receptors on the cancer cells. Your doctor may recommend special testing on your cancer or even in a blood test that may identify mutations or receptors that may be used to target your cancer.
