Cancer treatment principles

[Cami]

Treating cancer is one of the most complex aspects of medical care. It involves a team that encompasses many types of doctors working together (for example, primary care doctors, gynecologists or other specialists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, and pathologists) and many other types of health care practitioners (for example, nurses, radiation therapists, physiotherapists, social workers, and pharmacists).
Treatment plans take into consideration the type of cancer, including its location, its stage, and its genetic characteristics, as well as specific characteristics of the person being treated.
Treatment decisions also take into account other factors, including

The likelihood of cure or of prolonging life when cure is not possible
The effect of treatment on symptoms
The side effects of treatment
The person