Medical oncology
The medical branch of oncology deals with the treatment of cancer through medicinal techniques. Some examples include chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy, and targeted therapy. A medical oncologist often is the main health care provider for someone who has cancer. A medical oncologist also gives supportive care and may coordinate treatment given by other specialists.
 

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer (Cytotoxic) drugs to destroy the cancer cells. Many of these drugs are given singly but often several drugs are given together in what is known as combination chemotherapy. The type of chemotherapy treatment a patient receives depends primarily on:

Biological therapy
Biological therapies use substances that occur naturally in the body to destroy cancer cells. There are several types of such treatment including: monoclonal antibodies, cancer growth inhibitors, vaccines and gene therapy. Biological therapy is also known as immunotherapy.

Hormonal therapy
Hormones are substances that occur naturally in the body and act as chemical messengers influencing the growth and activity of various cells. Hormones are produced by a number of different organs or glands which form part of the endocrine system. This therapy acts by altering the production or activity of particular hormones in the body. They are most commonly used to treat breast and prostate cancers. The type of hormonal therapy given depends on the cancer being treated.

Supportive therapies
These therapies are given in addition to the main treatment for cancer or as part of the main treatment. Some common agents used in these are:

Surgical oncology is a modality that is concerned with the treatment and diagnosis of cancer through surgical methods. Procedures include tumor removal, excision of affected tissues, and other procedures. Surgery is the one of the oldest form of cancer treatment. Most of the cancer patients undergo surgery either by itself or in combination with other therapies. The major surgeries undertaken are-

Diagnostic surgery (Biopsy)
In Biopsy the surgeon removes a part or the entire tumor for histopathological examination to determine whether the growth is cancerous or not.  Various biopsies often done are-

Preventive Surgery
In this procedure the surgeon removes a tissue that might lead to cancer. Often called precancerous lesions these turn into cancers in most of the patients and the surgery is an effective way of reducing risk.

Reconstructive surgery
This type of the surgery returns the body to normal or near-normal appearance following cancer treatment. The most common restorative surgery is reconstruction of a breast after a mastectomy. Other common reconstructive procedures are facial reconstruction and testicular implants.

Minimally Invasive Surgery
The advances in computer imaging and robotics have benefited both the surgeons and the patients in equal measures. Using small cameras, miniaturized instruments and imaging equipment, the surgeons remove the tumor with the smallest possible incision. It helps the patient cosmetically as well as reduces the recovery time significantly.

Radiotherapy
Radiation therapy treats cancer through the use of ionizing radiation (X-rays or other high energy rays) to eliminate and control the malignant cells. Different kinds of cancers respond differently to the use of radiotherapy. Radiotherapy is generally a very effective method of treating cancer. It works by destroying the cancer cells in the treated area. Although normal cells can also be damaged by the radiotherapy, they can usually repair themselves.
 
Radiotherapy is often given with the aim of destroying a tumor and curing the cancer, a treatment also known as curative or radical radiotherapy. It is more often used in conjunction with the chemotherapy or with the surgery. Sometimes it is given to relieve the pain as a palliative procedure.

Bone marrow transplant
Bone marrow is a spongy material that is found inside the bones (particularly the pelvic bones) and the Stem cells are blood cells at the earliest stage of development in the bone marrow. When the cells are fully mature they are released into the bloodstream. Bone marrow produces the cells which develop into the three different types of blood cells: Red blood cells, white blood cells and the platelets. Normally, most of the stem cells in the body are in the bone marrow and there are only very small numbers of these cells found in the bloodstream.  There are four main steps involved in the process of transplant:

Step one
The first step is to reduce the load of cancer to the lowest level possible by using chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Ideally the patient should not have detectable cancer at the time of high-dose treatment. This gives the best possible chance for the treatment to work.

Step two
The second step is the collection of the stem cells from the patient or from the donor, known as harvest.

Step three
The third step is the high-dose treatment. The aim here is to remove the remaining cancer cells from the patient’s body. The patient may be treated with chemotherapy alone or sometimes n combination with the radiotherapy as well. This intensive treatment completely destroys even the normal bone marrow cells. This step is also sometimes called the conditioning regimen and usually lasts a few days.

Step four
The fourth step is to give the stem cells to the patient through Intravenous route. It’s akin to having a blood transfusion. It takes around 2–4 weeks before the cells find their way through the bloodstream into the bone marrow and start to produce new blood cells.  During all these four stages the patient need as continuous medical and nursing support.

PET CT Scan

The PET CT has revolutionized other fields of medical diagnosis through precise anatomic localization and functional imaging. International Oncology recently launched the GEMINI GXL from Philips, the world’s first and only OPEN PET CT with 32 Slice/sec CT scan. The PET (Positron Emission Tomography) CT is a functional imaging modality used predominantly to diagnose conditions by monitoring glucose metabolism at the cellular level.

Here's how it works:
All human cells consume glucose or sugar as a source of energy, but cancer cells require more glucose than healthy cells due to their extreme growth rate. PET scanning utilizes a radioactive molecule that is similar to glucose, called fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). FDG accumulates within

malignant cells because of their high rate of glucose metabolism. When a patient is scanned, the resulting images show the distribution of the radiolabeled glucose throughout the body. Areas of increased metabolism are termed as "hyper metabolic" and appear as "hot spots" on the images.
 

The PET CT can help physicians by diagnosing the disease much earlier than other conventional diagnostic procedures and aid them in making an accurate diagnosis, staging and restaging of cancer, treatment plans, patient prognosis, and monitoring the effectiveness of therapies.

There are no side effects associated with the PET CT. It is safe for any age and is completely painless. The total radiation dose is less than that of 1 ½ standard whole body CT scans. The FDG degrades quickly (T 1/2-110min.). It is eliminated from the body through urine.

Family members are not at risk for exposure and patient can interact with them when they leave the department.
 

The radioactive substance may expose radiation to the fetus in patients who are pregnant or the infants of women who are breast-feeding. So, if you are pregnant, or think you might be, you should inform the PET imaging staff before your scan.