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The two most common cancer treatments are radiation therapy (or radiotherapy) and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses drugs to attack cancerous cells in various ways. Immunotherapy strengthens the immune system, while cancer vaccines are intended to prevent or treat certain types of cancer (Hepatitis B and cervical cancer vaccines are currently available in the U.S.) Chemotherapy drugs must go through extensive drug trials before use on human cancer patients. Radiotherapy aims radioactive particles (for instance, protons and gamma rays) at the specific part of the body that's affected by the cancer. For small tumors (sometimes called seed tumors) or blood vessel cancers, a gamma knife may be used. Cervical cancers may be treated with intracavity radiation. In some cases, such as breast or uterine cancer, the cancerous growth may be surgically removed. These patients usually undergo radiotherapy to ensure complete removal or cancerous cells; breast cancer patients may choose to have plastic surgery or wear prostheses once treatment is complete, while uterine cancer patients and others must utilize hormone replacement therapy.
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