General cancer information

Types of treatment

Treatments for cancer can include:

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.

Radiotherapy 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.

It is good to be prepared for side effects and know how to manage them.

Looking after your general health is important, even when you have cancer.

There are ways to deal with some of the emotional effects of having cancer.

It is important to ask about costs before you start your treatment.