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Treatments
Choice of cancer treatment is influenced by several factors, including the specific characteristics of your cancer; your overall condition; and whether the goal of treatment is to cure your cancer, keep your cancer from spreading, or to relieve the symptoms caused by cancer. Depending on these factors, you may receive one or more of the following:
° Surgery
° Chemotherapy
° Radiation therapy
° Hormonal therapy
° Targeted therapy
° Biological therapy
One or more treatment alternatives may be used to provide you with the most effective treatment. Increasingly, it is common to use several treatment options together (concurrently) or in sequence with the goal of preventing recurrence. This is referred to as multi-modality treatment of the cancer.
Surgery is used for diagnosis, to determine its stage, and to treat cancer. A biopsy involves taking a tissue sample from the suspected cancer for examination by a specialist in a laboratory. A biopsy is often performed in the physician’s office or in an outpatient surgery center. It is usually used as definitive diagnostic.
When surgery is used for treatment, the cancer and some tissue adjacent to the cancer are typically removed. In addition to providing local treatment of the cancer, information gained during surgery is useful in predicting the likelihood of cancer recurrence and whether other treatment alternatives will be necessary.
Chemotherapy is any treatment involving the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Cancer chemotherapy may consist of single drugs or combinations of drugs, and can be administered through a vein, injected into a body cavity, or delivered orally in the form of a pill. Chemotherapy is different from surgery or radiation therapy in that the cancer-fighting drugs circulate in the blood to parts of the body where the cancer may have spread and can kill or eliminate cancers cells at sites great distances from the original cancer. As a result, chemotherapy is considered a systemic treatment.
More than half of all people diagnosed with cancer receive chemotherapy. For millions of people who have cancers that respond well to chemotherapy, this approach helps treat their cancer effectively, enabling them to enjoy full, productive lives. Furthermore, many side effects once associated with chemotherapy are now easily prevented or controlled, allowing many people to work, travel, and participate in many of their other normal activities while receiving chemotherapy.
Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, uses high-energy rays to damage or kill cancer cells by preventing them from growing and dividing. Similar to surgery, radiation therapy is a local treatment used to eliminate or eradicate visible tumors. Radiation therapy is not typically useful in eradicating cancer cells that have already spread to other parts of the body. Radiation therapy may be externally or internally delivered. External radiation delivers high-energy rays directly to the tumor site from a machine outside the body. Internal radiation, or brachytherapy, involves the implantation of a small amount of radioactive material in or near the cancer. Radiation may be used to cure or control cancer, or to ease some of the symptoms caused by cancer. Sometimes radiation is used with other types of cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy and surgery, and sometimes it is used alone.
Hormones are naturally occurring substances in the body that stimulate the growth of hormone sensitive tissues, such as the breast or prostate gland. When cancer arises in breast or prostate tissue, its growth and spread may be caused by the body’s own hormones.
Therefore, drugs that block hormone production or change the way hormones work, and/or removal of organs that secrete hormones, such as the ovaries or testicles, are ways of fighting cancer. Hormone therapy, similar to chemotherapy, is a systemic treatment in that it may affect cancer cells throughout the body.
A targeted therapy is one that is designed to treat only the cancer cells and minimize damage to normal, healthy cells. Cancer treatments that “target” cancer cells may offer the advantage of reduced treatment-related side effects and improved outcomes.
Conventional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, cannot distinguish between cancer cells and healthy cells. Consequently, healthy cells are commonly damaged in the process of treating the cancer, which results in side effects. Chemotherapy damages rapidly dividing cells, a hallmark trait of cancer cells. In the process, healthy cells that are also rapidly dividing, such as blood cells and the cells lining the mouth and GI tract are also damaged. Radiation therapy kills some healthy cells that are in the path of the radiation or near the cancer being treated. Newer radiation therapy techniques can reduce, but not eliminate this damage. Treatment-related damage to healthy cells leads to complications of treatment, or side effects. These side effects may be severe, reducing a patient’s quality of life, compromising their ability to receive their full, prescribed treatment, and sometimes, limiting their chance for an optimal outcome from treatment.
Biological therapy is referred to by many terms, including immunologic therapy, immunotherapy, or biotherapy. Biological therapy is a type of treatment that uses the body’s immune system to facilitate the killing of cancer cells.
Types of biological therapy include interferon, interleukin, monoclonal antibodies, colony stimulating factors (cytokines), and vaccines.
New Patients
Over the phone:
Just give us a call to this number and we will take care of everything: (703) 698-9400.
In person:
You can also schedule your appointments in our office during your visits.
You will need you to bring the following (if possible):
• New Patient Packet. (Click here to download New Patient Packet)
• Any ID with a picture of you and current address.
• Insurance card (Primary and Secondary if possible).
• Copayment if required.
• If you are being referred by another physician, please get: Latest progress notes.
• At least 3 months of lab results.
• ll radiology (images of any kind) and pathology (biopsies).
In case you can’t get the documents from your physician, let us know before your first visit. We can contact them to get everything we need.
Remember, any additional information you can provide will help us a lot. We consider healthcare a teamwork, where we all work together to improve patient’s quality of life!
Coverage is based on your individual plan. All medical plans are different. Our office will call your insurance and obtain the following information. If you have a copay for a specialist office visit and if you have any deductible or out of pocket expenses.
When only having Medicare coverage, you would need a secondary insurance to pay for the 20% that Medicare allows. If you have no secondary coverage you would be responsible for paying the 20% at the time services are rendered. No insurance is better than another, it is always basted on your individual plan.
Your list of questions is just a guide. During your visit, more questions may come to mind. Don’t be afraid to bring them up. These questions may get you started:
° Am I due for any routine screenings?
° Have any of the routine screenings found something? If so, what’s the diagnosis?
° Are additional tests needed?
° What treatment is recommended? What are the benefits and risks?
° What are the instructions associated with any medications you’re prescribed?
° Can your doctor give you any written materials or online resources where you can learn more about your condition?
° Should you schedule a follow-up visit?
° If your condition doesn’t improve, how long should you wait before returning to the doctor?
Questions to consider asking about self-care:
° What home treatment or over-the-counter medications are needed?
° What results are expected?
° Are there dietary or activity instructions or restrictions?
° You might want to bring a notebook and pen to jot down additional questions and your doctor’s recommendations during your appointment.
After your visit:
° Stay in touch with your doctor if you need further assistance. It’s okay to ask more questions after your appointment.
° Follow all treatment instructions.
° Report any problems with medication.
° Call your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.
° Keep your follow-up appointment.
° Follow recommended preventive care and wellness lifestyle changes.
You may also be tested to diagnose or confirm the presence of a disease, or to see how well a particular treatment or medication is working. Regardless of the reason for the test, make sure you know the answers to these important questions:
° What tests will I have?
° How should I prepare for these tests?
° Why have these tests been ordered?
° What will the tests show?
° What should I do after the test results are in?
° How will I be informed of the test results?
° What are the potential risks and benefits of these tests?
° How will the test results affect further treatment decisions?
° Does insurance cover the test? What are your out-of-pocket costs?
After a test is done, it’s important to follow up for your results.
You might be asked to share the following information at your appointment:
Medical history – Tell your doctor about current or past health conditions. Also discuss your family medical history. Share your past and current symptoms.
Allergies – Mention any allergies you have.
Medications and Supplements – Bring a list of all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins and herbs you’re taking. Include doses if possible.
During Your Appointment – Don’t forget about your emotional health; it influences your physical health. Your health is worth the physician’s time. Repeat what the doctor has told you to be sure you understand and ask for clarification if needed. Try to reach an agreement about the recommended treatment plan.