General cancer information
Types of treatment Save this page
Treatments for cancer can include:
- surgery
- radiation therapy (radiotherapy)
- chemotherapy
- hormonal therapy
- targeted therapy
- immunotherapy
- palliative care.
Most people with cancer have one or more of these treatments. Not all treatments are suitable for every person or every type of cancer.
Choose the option that best suits your situation
The type of surgery you have depends on your cancer.
Radiation therapy is a way of treating cancers using X-rays or other types of radiation.
Chemotherapy, also known as chemo, is a way of treating cancer using drugs.
Hormonal therapy uses drugs to treat cancers that are sensitive to hormones.
Targeted therapy uses drugs that affect specific cells in some cancers.
Immunotherapy helps the body’s immune system to fight cancer.
Palliative care deals with managing symptoms and improving quality of life.
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It is important to ask about costs before you start your treatment.