What are the most common forms of cancer?

Cancer can occur anywhere in the body. In women, breast cancer is most common. In men, it’s prostate cancer. Lung cancer and colorectal cancer affect both men and women in high numbers.

There are five main categories of cancer:

• Carcinomas begin in the skin or tissues that line the internal organs.
• Sarcomas develop in the bone, cartilage, fat, muscle or other connective tissues.
• Leukemia begins in the blood and bone marrow.
• Lymphomas start in the immune system.
• Central nervous system cancers develop in the brain and spinal cord.

How is cancer treated?

Treatment options depend on the type of cancer, its stage, if the cancer has spread and your general health. The goal of treatment is to kill as many cancerous cells while minimizing damage to normal cells nearby. Advances in technology make this possible.

The three main treatments are:

• Surgery: directly removing the tumor
• Chemotherapy: using chemicals to kill cancer cells
• Radiation therapy: using X-rays to kill cancer cells

The same cancer type in one individual is very different from that cancer in another individual. Within a single type of cancer, such as breast cancer, researchers are discovering subtypes that each requires a different treatment approach.

What can you do to manage the side effects of cancer treatment?

Integrative oncology services describe a broad range of complementary treatments that combat side effects, boost the immune system and maintain well-being. Treating cancer cannot focus on the disease alone but must address the pain, fatigue and depression that comes with it.

Integrative oncology services include:

• Nutrition therapy to help prevent malnutrition and reduce side effects
• Naturopathic medicine to safely strengthen your immune system, boost your energy and reduce side effects
• Oncology rehabilitation to rebuild strength and overcome some of the physical effects of treatment
• Mind-body medicine to improve emotional well-being through counseling, stress management techniques and support groups

What does the future hold for cancer treatment?

The future of cancer treatment lies in providing patients with an even greater level of personalization. Doctors are beginning to offer treatment options based on the genetic changes occurring in a specific tumor.

An innovative new diagnostic tool, the genomic tumor assessment, examines a patient’s tumor genetically to identify the mechanism that caused the cancer. Genomic tumor assessment can result in a more personalized approach to cancer treatment.Type your paragraph here.