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Treatment
Treatment options for cancer have grown dramatically and are more effective than ever before. Many cancers are curable; but even when not completely curable, people can live productive lives for many years after diagnosis. At BryanLGH we offer a comprehensive range of services and treatment for cancer patients, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biotherapy and radioimmunotherapy — all by physicans and healthcare staff who are extensively trained in cancer care.
Goals of treatment:
Your doctor will discuss with you the goal of your therapy before you start treatment. The goal will depend on the type of cancer and if it has spread to other parts of the body. Cancer treatment can:
- Cure cancer
- Cause remission (no active signs of cancer)
- Kill any cancer cells remaining after surgery
- Slow the growth of cancer
- Reduce symptoms, such as pain
Which drugs will be used?
You and your doctor will decide which drug or combination of drugs, dosages, method of administration, frequency and length of treatment are best for you. All of these decisions will depend on the type of cancer, its location and size, how it is affecting your normal body functions and your general health.
How are the therapies given?
How you receive your therapy depends on your treatment plan. It can be given by mouth or by injection. Chemotherapy and biotherapy are most often given intravenously (IV), or through a small tube placed in a vein. The drug flows through the small tube (catheter) into the bloodstream. A more permanent type of catheter may be recommended to avoid repeated needle sticks into the vein. These permanent catheters are called central venous catheters or implanted ports. The catheters are surgically inserted into one of the large central veins in the chest under the collarbone and stay in place until treatment is completed. Chemotherapy, biotherapy blood and IV fluids can be given through this catheter. Blood for lab tests can be drawn from the catheter.
How often will I receive treatment?
How often you receive therapy and how long your treatment lasts depends on:
- The kind of cancer you have
- Your treatment goals
- The drugs that are used
- How your body responds to the chemotherapy or biotherapy drugs
Types of treatment
Surgery
Surgery can play an important role in cancer care. Surgery may be necessary for several reasons; it may be preventative (or prophylactic), diagnostic, curative, palliative (to relieve pain), reconstructive or to help determine the stage of the cancer.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of medicines or drugs to destroy cancer cells throughout the body by stopping them from growing and multiplying. It may be used alone or with surgery, radiation therapy or biotherapy. Chemotherapy kills fast-growing cancer cells. Side effects occur because chemotherapy also affects fast-growing normal, healthy cells. The normal cells most often affected are blood cells, hair follicles and cells in the digestive tract. The most common side effects of chemotherapy are nausea and vomiting, hair loss and fatigue. Other common side effects include an increased chance of bruising and bleeding or getting an infection.
Biotherapy
Biotherapy acts in several ways to destroy cancer cells. It can kill cancer cells directly, stimulate the immune system to kill cancer cells and change cancer cells into normal cells. Types of biotherapy include interferons, monoclonal antibodies, targeted therapies and vaccines. The side effects from biotherapy occur because of effects on the immune system. The most common side effects of biotherapy are fever, nausea, chills, muscle and joint aches, headache, fatigue, diarrhea and loss of appetite.
Radiation therapy
The two types of radiation therapy are radioactive implants (also called brachytherapy) and external beam treatment. Choosing the type and dose of radiation depends on the type of cancer and its location in your body. The radiation oncologist will use these factors, along with a physical exam and diagnostic tests to determine the best treatment plan for you. Leading-edge technologies such as prostate seed implants, Mammosite breast cancer treatment, HD Brachytherapy and radioimmunotherapy were all introduced at BryanLGH. Our new Outpatient Radiation Oncology Center, at Pine Lake Medical Plaza, 40th and Pine Lake Road, offers the most advanced equipment in the region. The Center delivers the most precise treatment providing higher doses than ever before with the very least effect on unaffected areas. Call the Center at 402-481-6090 for more information.
Radioimmunotherapy
Radioimmunotherapy is a new approach to the treatment of cancer. With radioimmunotherapy, radiation is linked to antibodies. Typically, the immune system uses antibodies to travel through the bloodstream and attack foreign invaders. These radioactive antibodies shoot through the bloodstream to the tumor areas, attaching to cancer cells and destroying them. Because radioimmunotherapy is targeted to tumor cells, it is particularly useful in the treatment of B-cell lymphoma and other blood cancers.
External beam radiation therapy
External beam radiation therapy delivers radiation to a limited region of the body. This is useful when the cancer is limited to a single tumor or area at which the radiation beam can be aimed.
Gamma Knife®
BryanLGH Medical Center was the first Nebraska hospital to offer Gamma Knife technology in 1999. The Leksell Gamma Knife® radiosurgery is a noninvasive medical procedure that uses focused beams of radiation to treat lesions or tumors in the brain without open surgery. This highly successful and safe procedure is used to treat brain tumors, vein malformations and other disorders of the brain. Because the Gamma Knife® does not require an incision, patients recover more rapidly and have shorter hospital stays — often returning to normal activities in two to four days. In addition, risks normally associated with surgery and anesthesia are eliminated. Gamma Knife services are offered at BryanLGH West, 2300 S. 16th St., 402-481-4999.
Cancer rehabilitation services
Cancer rehabilitation allows individuals and their families an opportunity to regain control and confidence within their lives, as well as improve their quality of life. Cancer rehabilitation focuses on practical day-to-day issues, including maximizing strength and adjusting to temporary or permanent changes affecting work, home and leisure life. Our goals are to restore function, as well as to provide knowledge and skills to the individual and family so they can maintain that level of function within the limits of their medical condition.
The cancer rehabilitation team
BryanLGH Medical Center’s rehabilitation health professionals are well-trained in managing the physical and psychological effects that cancer can have on a person’s quality of life. A variety of professional therapists and specialists work together with each patient and family to address functional, emotional and social needs. We offer:
- Traditional rehabilitation therapists – physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, enterostomal (ostomy) therapy
- Complementary therapies – including stress management and aquatics
Through our rehabilitation services department, BryanLGH Medical Center offers physical, occupational and speech therapy services specifically tailored to the needs of those with cancer.
