Your medical oncologist (cancer doctor) is probably the best person with whom to discuss treatment options. There are three principal forms of cancer treatment:
The Northern Rockies Radiation Oncology Center specializes in Radiation Therapy. Surgery is generally conducted at an area hospital, while chemotherapy may be provided in a hospital or in a physician's office. The proper course of treatment for each patient depends on many things and is a highly personalized program developed for each individual.
Aside from the three most typical forms of treatment outlined above, there are additional therapies and options a patient may want to investigate and discuss with the family physician. One of these is a clinical trial. A clinical trial is a study usually involving a fairly large number of cancer patients who may choose to try an FDA-approved drug that may be helpful in treating cancer. Occasionally, clinical trials are initiated and performed in Billings, but most are nationally-based. Information on clinical trials is available from the National Cancer Institute at 1-800-422-6237. Sometimes you may see clinical trials advertised in the newspaper, or you may even receive a personal letter advising you of an upcoming clinical trial. Always discuss these treatment options with your family physician or medical oncologist.
