Cancer is a condition caused by the proliferation of harmful cells in a specific part of the body. These cells divide at an uncontrollable pace and destroy tissues, and the disease can spread to other parts of the body as well. There are many treatments available for this condition, depending on the type and advancement of cancer, and a combination of treatments may also be used. Here’s a list of the main treatments for cancer:

• Surgery:  This procedure is done to remove cancerous cells or tumors from the body and is the ideal option if the cancerous growth or tumor is in a specific area. Surgery does not work for leukemia or any cancer that has spread in the body. A surgeon removes the entire tumor and any infected lymph nodes or tissues nearby in this type of treatment for cancer.
• Chemotherapy:  In this treatment, strong medications are used to kill cancer cells or slow down their growth. These medications prevent cancer from progressing. While chemotherapy is one of the main treatments for cancer and is also effective, it has several side effects. The procedure also kills healthy cells in the body, including the ones in the blood, digestive system, and mouth. It may also affect the hair follicles, causing patients to lose hair during the course of the treatment.
• Radiation therapy:  This treatment uses intense energy beams or high radiation to destroy the cancer cells, and it can also help shrink tumors. Radiation damages the DNA of cancer cells and prevents them from dividing. When the damaged cancerous cells die, they are removed by the body, which helps a patient recover over time. This therapy does not kill cancer cells instantly and takes weeks to show effect. The two main types of radiation therapy are external beam radiation and internal beam radiation.
• Immunotherapy:  Immunotherapy is a type of biological therapy or treatment that boosts the patient’s immune system to fight cancer. It prompts the immune system to work harder and fight the disease. This treatment may also use lab-created immune system proteins to destroy cancerous cells in the body. Depending on the treatment, doctors may prescribe immunotherapy either orally or intravenously.
• Hormone therapy:  One of the main treatments for cancers that affect the hormone levels in the body, it is especially used in the case of breast and prostate cancer. Hormone or endocrine therapy stops or slows down the proliferation of harmful cells in these organs, and this treatment is used in combination with other treatment methods for cancer.

Apart from these, targeted therapy, stem cell transplant, gene therapy, and precision medicine are some of the main treatments for cancer. A doctor may use one or more treatments, depending on the type of cancer.