Medical treatment is a broad term that includes many different kinds of therapy, including medication, surgery, physical and psychological therapies, and other interventions. The goal of medical treatment is to manage symptoms, cure diseases, and improve quality of life for individuals. Modern medicine relies on a wide range of diagnostic tools, from laboratory tests to medical imaging, to accurately identify and diagnose diseases. The most important step in medical treatment is the accurate diagnosis of disease or injury, which allows healthcare professionals to create a custom treatment plan for each patient.
A drug or other therapy that prevents a medical condition from happening (also called prophylaxis). For example, vaccines prevent infectious diseases. A therapy tried after other treatments have failed; it may also be referred to as a “last-line” therapy. For example, a drug used after chemotherapy or radiation has failed to cure cancer is often a last-line therapy.
An imaging test that uses X-rays to make detailed pictures of internal organs and tissues. Doctors can use CT scans to help them find tumors, show how well treatment is working, or check for other problems such as blood clots.
The process of a person giving informed consent to a health care provider for a procedure or treatment. This involves discussing the risks, benefits, and alternatives of the treatment. It also includes asking questions and understanding the information that is given.
A medical condition that results from an infection, disease, or accident. It can include burns, amputations, traumatic injuries, and some infections. The most common conditions that doctors treat are infections, cancer, and heart disease.
Treatment that focuses on the site of the cancer, so it doesn’t affect other parts of the body. This can include surgery, radiation, and topical treatments like creams. A type of radiation treatment that puts a small amount of radioactive material directly into the body to kill cancer cells or reduce their size. This type of radiation is usually given after surgery or as a follow-up to other treatment, such as chemotherapy.
A condition that causes the white blood cells to become less active, which can lead to lower immunity and other complications. It can be caused by some medications, such as interferons.