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Definition and Features |
Clinical Indications |
Disadvantages |
| Surgery |
It is the major therapeutical method for cancer patients.
By removing the tumors, there are immediate results. Many patients
can be cured. |
It is suitable for most types of cancer except when dealing
with the haematopoietic system; The selection of various surgery
methods is based on the types and stages of the cancer. Cancer
patients at early and middle stages can be clinically cured
after operations. But patients with advanced cancers can only
be relieved with their symptoms. For the cancers that are difficult
to be found at early stages or ones that progress rapidly, the
effect of surgery is not optimal. |
It can result in large-scale wounds, a decrease in the function
of organs which causes many complications. It cannot remove
invisible and some metastatic tumors. It can stimulate the growth
of cancer cells and result in plantation of cancer cells. |
| Radiotherapy |
Cancer cells are sensitive to radioactive rays at certain
degree and therefore they can be killed with radiation. Its
most important advantage is that the structure and functions
of an organ can be preserved from being injured by surgery.
|
The efficacy is mainly dependent on the tumor's sensitivity
to radioactive rays. Tumors can be classified into three types
according to its radioactive ray's sensitivity. They can either
be highly sensitive, medium sensitive or low sensitive. Radiotherapy
is mainly used for controlling local tumors with high sensitivity.
|
It can cause radioactive responses such as radioactive pneumonia,
platelets, radioactive skin, muscular and nervous injury and
a decrease of leukocytes. These are all difficult to recover
and can generate radioactive resistance. |
| Chemotherapy |
The major advantage of chemotherapy is that the drugs
can enter blood circulation and function on every organ of the
body. Therefore, chemotherapy is effective for many types of
tumors. Its major anti-cancer mechanism is to stop cells at
one of the cell cycle stages. It can be effective in prevention
of cancer metastasis and advanced cancers. |
Over ten types of cancers can be cured clinically.
It can cause a dramatic decrease in cancer and it can control
metastasis and relapse. It can also be used to treat advanced
tumor such as palliative or routine treatment. |
Attention should be paid to the dosage and usage of
the drugs as it has strong side effects which influences the
immune, haematopoietic and, intestinal system. It also decreases
leukocytes, causes infections and haemorrhages and loses of
hair. Injury to important organs is caused by the inhibition
of bone marrow. It can also become drug resistance. |
| Chinese traditional medicine |
Many Chinese traditional herbs have anti-cancer effects, which
strengthen body functions and improve the body's immunity. |
It has a certain degree of effects with advanced tumors. It
enhances the effects of chemotherapy and decreases its toxicity.
It is helpful for post-surgery recovery and the recovery of
injuries caused by surgery and other functional maladjustments. |
It has relatively weaker anti-cancer activity and insignificant
effects on tumor shrinkage. |
| Naturopathy |
It achieves its effect mainly by changing the dietary habits
and life-style. Some of the natural, non-drug and non-operational
methods include: meditation, diet-therapy, Qigong, Taiqi and
water therapy. |
It is safe and reliable. It is helpful in the improvement
of health, prevention of cancer, promotion of recovery and increases
the lifespan. |
Although it doesn't have any side effects, it has limited
therapeutical effects, less specificity and lack of scientific
appraisal to support its effectiveness. |
