|
Treatment Option Overview
How carcinoma of unknown primary is treated
Treatment by stage
How carcinoma of unknown primary is treated
Many different treatments are used either alone or in combination to treat CUP.
Some of the treatments that are used are:
Surgery is a common treatment for CUP. A doctor may remove the cancer and some
of the healthy tissue around it. Different operations are used depending on
where the cancer is found. If the cancer has spread to lymph nodes, the lymph
nodes may be removed (lymph node dissection). If the nodes involved are in the groin, this operation is called a superficial groin dissection. If the cancer
has spread to lymph nodes and also to some surrounding areas, the doctor may
have to remove a larger portion of tissue around the nodes. When muscles, nerves, and other tissue in the neck are removed, this is called a radical neck
dissection.
Radiation therapy uses x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells
and shrink tumors. Radiation may be used alone or before or after surgery.
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be taken by
mouth or it may be put into the body by a needle in a vein or muscle.
Chemotherapy is called a systemic treatment because the drugs enter the
bloodstream, travel through the body, and can kill cancer cells throughout the
body. Chemotherapy may be used alone or after surgery. Therapy given after an
operation when there are no cancer cells that can be seen is called adjuvant
therapy.
Hormone therapy is used to stop the hormones in the body that help cancer cells
grow. This may be done by using drugs that change the way hormones work or by
surgery that takes out organs that make hormones, such as the testicles (orchiectomy).
Treatment by stage
Treatment of CUP depends on where the doctor thinks the cancer started, what
the cancer cells look like under a microscope, and other factors. Surgery and
tests may be done to find where the cancer started.
Standard treatment may be considered because of its effectiveness in patients
in past studies, or participation in a clinical trial may be considered. Not
all patients are cured with standard therapy and some standard treatments may
have more side effects than are desired. For these reasons, clinical trials
are designed to find better ways to treat cancer patients and are based on the
most up-to-date information. Clinical trials are ongoing in most parts of the
country for CUP. To learn more about clinical trials, call the Cancer
Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237); TTY at 1-800-332-8615.
 Back to Top
< Previous Section | Next Section > |
