Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment: From Surgery to Radiation to Chemotherapy

In this podcast episode, the revolutions in cancer treatment are discussed. The conversation begins by examining the history of cancer treatment, which primarily involved radical surgeries and radiation therapy. The advent of anesthesia led to the renaissance of surgical approaches, while radiation therapy showed promising results in killing rapidly dividing cancer cells. It wasn't until the 1940s that chemotherapy was introduced, with the use of antifolate therapy for certain types of leukemia. This marked the first administration of systemic therapy and launched the era of chemotherapy. These three treatment approaches, surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, are considered the first revolution in cancer treatment. However, it is noted that they are largely effective for localized tumors, and further advancements were needed for metastasized cancers.