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Targeted Therapy

Recent advances in the understanding of how cancer cells grow and metastasise has led to the development of new drugs that specifically target the cancer cells without causing undue damage to the normal cells in the body. This new drug can be used on its own or combined with conventional chemotherapy.

Target therapy drugs specifically block certain receptors or proteins that control the growth or proliferation of cancer cells. Example includes drugs that block the EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor) like gefitinib, cetuximab and others which are rapidly being developed and used by oncologists.

Hormone Therapy

Hormones are substances produced to help regulate and coordinate growth, metabolism and reproduction of our body. Such as prostate and breast cancer, they depend on hormones to grow. To slow down or stop the growth and spread of cancer cells, Hormone Therapy is used to block or remove hormones they need.

The treatment may consist of taking medication to suppress the production of certain hormones. Example of hormone therapy includes drugs like tamoxifen, Anastrozloe, Letrozole and others. In other cases, surgery may be required to remove the gland that produces hormones. Hormone Therapy is often used in combination with other treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy or after surgery.

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	Chemotherapy Chemotherapy is the use of cytotoxic drugs in the treatment of cancer. It is one of the treatment modalities that provide cure, control or palliation.
	Surgery Surgery is one of treatment modalities in treating cancer. It is focusing on the surgical management including biopsy, staging and surgical resection.