Sometimes, the goal is to remove the whole tumor and achieve cure. At other times, the surgeon removes the largest portion of tumor so other treatment options can work better. Finally, surgery can be used to make the patient more comfortable, such as removing a blockage of the bowel. Radiation destroys the ability of cancer cells to grow and divide. Both normal and cancer cells are affected by radiation, but most normal cells recover or repair themselves.
Radiation therapy can treat tumors located in a specific area.
Sometimes, radiation helps control the symptoms from a tumor that has spread. For example, pain can be relieved by shrinking a tumor pressing on nerves or causing a blockage somewhere. Radiation can also be used in certain instances for whole body irradiation, such as for bone marrow transplantation . Chemotherapy Chemotherapy is the use of chemicals or medicines to treat cancers. Because chemotherapy is generally transported through the blood, it can treat cancers that have spread or are suspected of spreading some distance from the starting place.