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.
Types of Cancer Treatment in Alphabetical Order
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Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy works by killing or stopping the growth of cancer and other fast-growing cells.
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Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy is a treatment that slows or stops the growth of breast and prostate cancers that use hormones to grow.
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Hyperthermia
Hyperthermia is a type of treatment in which body tissue is heated to help damage and kill cancer cells.
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Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps your immune system fight cancer.
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Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy uses a drug activated by light to kill cancer and other abnormal cells.
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Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
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Blood Stem Cell Transplant
Stem cell transplants are procedures that restore blood-forming stem cells in people who have had theirs destroyed by high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
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Cancer Surgery
Surgery, when used to treat cancer, is a procedure in which a surgeon removes cancer from your body.
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Targeted Therapy
Treatment that targets the changes in cancer cells that help them grow, divide, and spread.