Treatments

The type of treatment recommended depends on how big the cancer is, whether it has spread to other areas of your body and how fit and well you are. Some people will only have one treatment while others will need a combination of treatments. Here are some of the more common types of treatment.

Surgery

Surgery may be offered in order to remove the tumour. However, it depends on where the cancer is located in your body, its size and whether it has spread (metastasised) and also whether you are generally well enough to have the operation. Sometimes an operation is not the right or only treatment. If it has already spread, other options such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy, are more successful in reaching different areas of the body. Surgery is also not possible if you have leukaemia or lymphoma.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a drug used to attack cancer cells and destroy them throughout your body. It is usually used when the cancer has spread to different areas of the body, as it is able to attack cancer cells in different locations. It is used to shrink a tumour before further treatment and to try and stop it coming back after surgery or radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is the use of radiation to target cancer cells. It can be given from outside the body (external) or inside the body (internal). It can be used on its own to cure cancer, to reduce the chances of it coming back or to help relieve symptoms of the tumour to improve quality of life.

Other treatment options

There are of course many other treatment options such as drug therapy, hormone therapy, stem cell and bone marrow transplants and immunotherapy. The type of treatment is dependent on the type of cancer that you have and how advanced it is.

Our advice on treatment options

Each treatment option will have different effects, so do not be afraid to ask your doctor about what each treatment method will hope to achieve. Also, be sure to ask your doctor about the risks and benefits of each treatment option, so that you are able to make an informed decision with confidence.

Our cancer team

As part of any claim that we bring for our clients, our specialist cancer team can obtain opinions on treatment options and help you access specialist cancer experts.

If you would like any help or advice about your cancer diagnosis, contact our experienced team who can help you make positive steps to your recovery.

Call our specialist and friendly team on 0345 2410 154 or use the contact form and we’ll call you back.