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Types of Cancer Treatment

There are many types of cancer treatment. Some people with cancer have only one treatment. But most people have a combination of treatments, such as surgery with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

The types of treatment that you receive will depend on the type of cancer you have and how advanced it is. To learn more about how specific cancers are treated, see the cancer treatment information for adult and childhood cancers. Our list of Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Treatment may help you talk with your doctor and learn more about your treatment options.

  • Doctor and patient looking at DNA genomic sequence on iPad

    Biomarker Testing for Cancer Treatment

    Biomarker testing is a way to look for genes, proteins, and other substances (called biomarkers or tumor markers) that can provide information about cancer. Biomarker testing can help you and your doctor choose a cancer treatment.

  • Seated female patient receives chemotherapy infusion from female nurse.

    Chemotherapy

    Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Learn how chemotherapy works against cancer, why it causes side effects, and how it is used with other cancer treatments.

  • Woman seated beside man, eyes closed and leaning her head on his chest

    Hormone Therapy

    Hormone therapy is a treatment that slows or stops the growth of breast and prostate cancers that use hormones to grow. Learn about the types of hormone therapy and side effects that may happen.

  • Doctor explains hyperthermia to patient

    Hyperthermia

    Hyperthermia is a type of treatment in which body tissue is heated to as high as 113 °F to help damage and kill cancer cells with little or no harm to normal tissue. Learn about the types of cancer and precancers that hyperthermia is used to treat, how it is given, and the benefits and drawbacks of using hyperthermia.

  • Researcher seated by a desk and computer screen points to detail in a CT scan on the screen.

    Immunotherapy

    Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps your immune system fight cancer. This page covers the types of immunotherapy, how it is used against cancer, and what you can expect during treatment.

  • Photodynamic Therapy for Cancer

    Photodynamic Therapy

    Photodynamic therapy uses a drug activated by light to kill cancer and other abnormal cells. Learn how photodynamic therapy works, about the types of cancer and precancers it is used to treat, and the benefits and drawbacks of this treatment.

  • Technician positions a person lying on a treatment table for radiation therapy.

    Radiation Therapy

    Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Learn about the types of radiation, why side effects happen, which side effects you might have, and more.

  • Woman sits in chair attached to an apheresis machine. The needle in one arm removes blood where it flows into the apheresis machine. Then, another needle carries blood from the apheresis machine into her other arm.

    Stem Cell Transplant

    Stem cell transplants are procedures that restore stem cells that grow into blood cells in people who have had theirs destroyed by high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Learn about the types of transplants, side effects that may occur, and how stem cell transplants are used in cancer treatment.

  • Group of surgeons in caps and masks.

    Surgery

    When used to treat cancer, surgery is a procedure in which a surgeon removes cancer from your body. Learn the different ways that surgery is used against cancer and what you can expect before, during, and after surgery.

  • drawing of people in silhouette, a DNA strand, and a bottle of medication

    Targeted Therapy

    Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that targets the changes in cancer cells that help them grow, divide, and spread. Learn how targeted therapy works against cancer and about common side effects that may occur.

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