Types of treatment
This section gives a brief description of the main types of treatment available for cancer. You can find more detailed information by visiting the cancer types section of this website.
Surgery
Surgery may be used to confirm the diagnosis and assess the stage of the cancer. Surgical treatment for cancer usually aims to remove all or as much as possible of the cancer. It will usually involve a stay in hospital, although some cancer surgery procedures can be done in a day.
The cancer surgeon should discuss with you what they plan to do. Some hospitals have specialist nurses who can discuss with you your operation, the effects and recovery time. It is best for surgery to be carried out by a surgeon who specialises in treating your particular cancer.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy uses X-rays to destroy cancer cells. The most common method of radiotherapy uses a machine (linear accelerator) to target X-rays at the cancer from outside your body. You do not usually have to stay in hospital to have radiotherapy. Treatment may be given in one visit or as a daily course of treatment over several weeks. At your first appointment, your cancer specialist and radiographers will plan your treatment. Treatment may not start on the same day as your first appointment.
The treatment sessions do not hurt and can last from a few seconds to several minutes. Side effects vary from person to person and will also depend on which part of the body is being treated. You can talk to your doctor or the radiographer about possible side effects and what can be done to reduce them. An information sheet about your treatment will be available from your consultant. You can find out more about radiotherapy by visiting our Radiotherapy section.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy or control cancer cells. The drugs enter the bloodstream by taking tablets or through a drip. The different drugs destroy the cancer cells in different ways - some break them down while others disrupt their growth and some starve them of the food they need.
Chemotherapy drugs will affect normal cells as well, but the effects of this are temporary because normal cells can repair faster than cancer cells. Chemotherapy sometimes involves staying in hospital but many people visit hospital regularly as outpatients to receive their course of treatment over several weeks or months. You can find out more about chemotherapy by visiting our Chemotherapy section.
Link:Cancer and complementary therapies
Produced by:Macmillan Cancer Support
This section gives information about the complementary therapies most often used by people with cancer. Many people use complementary therapies to help support themselves through cancer and its treatment.
Link:Cancer treatment
Produced by:Macmillan Cancer Support
Find out more about the different types of treatments available for cancer.
Link:Cancer treatments
Produced by:CancerHelp UK
This section of their website will provide you with more information about the different treatments available for cancer.
Link:High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU)
Produced by:CancerHelp UK
This section of the CancerHelp website has information on a new type of cancer treatment called High Intensity Focused Ultrasound or ‘HIFU’. There is information on what high intensity focused ultrasound is, when it can be used, the possible side effects and how to find a HIFU trial in the UK.
Link:Types of treatment
Produced by:American Cancer Society
This section provides information about the different types of treatment available and explains how they work and what they involve.
Page last edited: 21 October 2011
