Cancer Treatments Overview: What Patients Can Expect

Hearing the word "cancer" can feel overwhelming. Many people want a clear, plain-language view of what treatment options exist and how doctors decide on a plan. This guide explains the most common treatment types and how they fit together.

Quick takeaways

Cancer treatment plans are built around goals like cure, long-term control, or symptom relief.
Many people receive more than one treatment type, either at the same time or in a sequence.
Decisions are based on the cancer type, stage, tumor biology, and what matters most to the patient.

Treatment goals

Oncology teams often describe treatment goals in simple categories:

Cure: Remove or destroy all cancer and prevent it from returning.
Control: Keep cancer from growing or spreading for as long as possible.
Relief: Reduce symptoms and support quality of life.

The goal can shift over time. Some cancers respond quickly to treatment, while others are managed like a chronic condition.

How treatment plans are chosen

A plan is usually based on:

Cancer type and stage: Where the cancer started, how large it is, and whether it has spread.
Tumor biology: Genetic changes or markers that can guide targeted or immune therapies.
Overall health: Other medical conditions, age, and how the body may handle treatment.
Patient preferences: Values, daily responsibilities, and the tradeoffs a patient is willing to accept.

Many patients also see a multidisciplinary team (medical oncologist, surgeon, radiation oncologist, and support specialists) so that options can be considered together.

Common treatment types

Surgery

Surgery removes a tumor or affected tissue. It is often used when the cancer is localized. Surgery can also be used to reduce the amount of cancer before other treatments.

Radiation therapy

Radiation uses high-energy beams to damage cancer cells. It can be used to target specific areas, either before surgery, after surgery, or as the main treatment in some cancers.

Systemic therapies

Systemic treatments travel through the bloodstream to reach cancer cells throughout the body.

Chemotherapy: Uses drugs that kill fast-growing cells. It can be used alone or with other therapies.
Targeted therapy: Uses drugs that focus on specific changes in cancer cells.
Immunotherapy: Helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.
Hormone therapy: Slows or blocks hormones that help certain cancers grow (for example, some breast and prostate cancers).

Clinical trials

Clinical trials test new treatments or new combinations of treatments. Many trials include standard therapy plus a new approach, so patients still receive active care.

How treatments are combined

It is common to use more than one treatment type. Some examples include:

Neoadjuvant therapy: Treatment before surgery to shrink a tumor.
Adjuvant therapy: Treatment after surgery to reduce the risk of the cancer returning.
Concurrent therapy: Two treatments given at the same time (for example, chemotherapy with radiation).

The sequencing depends on the cancer type, stage, and how well the tumor responds.