Treatment Options
There are three main treatment options for cancer: chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. An oncologist will explain your treatment plan to you and can answer any questions you may have.
- Chemotherapy uses drugs, hormones or biological agents to treat widespread cancer. Chemotherapy is given intravenously, by injections or in pill form. Your treatment length depends on the type of disease and stage of cancer, and the drugs prescribed to treat you. Of all cancer patients, about half will need chemotherapy and half will need radiation therapy. You may also receive a combination of chemotherapy and radiation.
- Radiation therapy uses radiation similar to x-rays to destroy cancerous cells or shrink the tumours. External or internal radiation is used. External radiation uses large, state of the art, computerized machines to deliver radiation precisely to the area with cancer. Internal radiation places radioactive seeds in contact with the cancer, in the area from which the cancer was removed, or inside the tumour for certain disease types.
You may experience some side effects resulting from treatment. Side effects may include:
- Hair loss
- Changes in your skin
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever
- Constipation
- Changes in your appetite
- Sores in your mouth
- Changes in your blood count
- Pain and discomfort
Your oncologist will explain the side effects that are most common to your treatment and make recommendations on what you can do if a side effect occurs.