When doctors are trying to cure cancer what procedures do they go through to find out what to do to cure it?

Question

My friend just died from leukemia so I wanted more info.

Answer 1

There are generally protocols (guides) that a doctor will follow based on the experience of previous cases of the same type of cancer at the same stage and age of the patient.  Each cancer has an established protocol . . of course, depending on the circumstances that protocol can be altered to become more individualized.

I am sorry about your friend. It is very difficult. There is no automatic cure for cancer . . but there is treatment that can lead to individual remission and eventual 'cure' . . but there is never any guarantee that the protocol will work for every single patient.

The protocols they use are kept in the hospital or at the cancer clinic and follow the patient around . . its usually a great big thick notebook and inside there is a guide to the drugs to use, the dosage according to weight, etc . . it's like a big recipe book with details on what to give if things don't work out .. of course . . at some point. . when a patient is not responding according to protocol than a doctor needs to begin researching and trying to find other types of treatment. This is where second opinions come in . . or where a patient needs to start doing their own research. It happened to us . . we found we needed to do a lot of our own research to locate effective treatment.  We worked in conjunction with the doctors.

Answer 2

Panda's answer is good. There are also studies called clinical trial where new therapies are tested and are carried out through volunteers. Ask your doctor or do a search on the net.