At the Saint Francis Natalie Warren Bryant Cancer Center, our oncology team delivers the most advanced and effective cancer treatment available nationwide to patients in Tulsa, OK. In every situation, our patients play a vital role on the cancer treatment team and help determine their recovery approach. Ultimately, our patients make treatment decisions based on our cancer treatment specialists’ recommendations, possible second opinions and information gathered from other professionals on our expert care team.

 

Cancer treatment can be complicated and should be specific to its type and location. A patient's age, health history and lifestyle are also important factors to consider when developing individualized cancer treatment plans. When initially diagnosed with cancer, a cancer treatment specialist, or oncologist, will provide an overview of cancer care options available. Your physician will recommend the most effective treatment plan based on type of cancer, how far it has spread and other influential factors, like your age and general health.

Cancer can be treated by surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy. Because cancer refers to a class of diseases, it is unlikely that there will ever be a single cure for cancer. Researchers are studying cancer treatment based on type and location to more accurately deliver appropriate therapy. 

 

If the diseased cells are confined to one location and have not spread (metastasized), surgery is the most common cancer treatment. This is often the case with lung, breast and colon cancers. If surgery cannot remove all of the cancer cells, additional cancer treatment is delivered in the form of radiation, chemotherapy or both. Some cancers require a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Lymphoma, or cancer of the lymph glands, is rarely treated with surgery and more commonly treated through chemotherapy and radiation. (Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that uses powerful chemicals to kill fast-growing cells in your body. Whereas, radiation therapy uses high-energy particles or waves to destroy or damage cancer cells.)

 

Browse our comprehensive cancer treatment services and read several oncology medical definitions. For questions or to schedule an appointment with our cancer care team, please call 918-494-2273.