The number and kinds of treatment choices you have will depend on the type of cancer, the stage of the cancer, and other factors such as your age, current health status, and personal needs. You are a key part of your cancer care team -- you should talk about what treatment choices are best for you. Don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you like. Make sure you understand your options. A cancer diagnosis almost always makes people feel they must get treatment as soon as possible. But you usually have plenty of time to think through all the options available so you can make the best possible choice.

How is cancer treated?

The 4 major types of treatment for cancer are surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and biologic therapies. You might also have heard about hormone therapies, such as tamoxifen, and transplant options, such as those done with bone marrow.

What treatment will be best for me?

Your cancer treatment will be based on your situation. Certain types of cancer respond better to certain types of treatment, so knowing the type of cancer you have is an important step toward knowing what treatments will work the best. The cancer's stage (how widespread it is) will also determine the best course of treatment. Your health, lifestyle, and personal preferences will also play a part in deciding what treatment options will be best for you. Not all types of treatment will work in your situation, so be sure that you understand your options. Don't be afraid to ask questions. It is your right to know what treatments are most likely to help you and what their side effects may be.

What is the goal of my treatment?

Before starting treatment, ask about the goal of treatment. Is the purpose of the treatment to cure the cancer, control it, or treat symptoms? Sometimes the goal of treatment can change over time.

What is remission?

Remission is a period of time when the cancer is responding to treatment or is under control. In a complete remission, all the signs and symptoms of the disease go away. It is also possible to have a partial remission in which the cancer shrinks but does not completely disappear. Remissions can last anywhere from many weeks to many years. Complete remissions may go on for years and be considered cures. If the cancer returns, more treatment can lead to another remission. A cancer that has recurred (come back) may respond to a different type of treatment, such as a different drug combination or radiation versus surgery.

What is staging?

Staging is the process of finding out how far the cancer has spread. Staging the cancer is a key step in learning your treatment choices. It will also give your health care team a better idea of the outlook for your recovery. But staging can take time, and people are often eager to begin treatment right away. Do not worry that the staging process is taking up treatment time. Keep in mind that by staging the cancer, you and your health care team will know what treatments are likely to be the best before starting the treatment.

There is more than 1 system for staging cancer. The TNM system is the one used most often. It gives 3 key pieces of information:

• T describes the size of the tumor and whether the cancer has spread to nearby tissues and organs.

• N describes how far the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.

• M shows whether the cancer has spread (metastasized) to other organs of the body.

Letters or numbers after the T, N, and M give more details about each of these factors. For instance, a tumor staged as T1, N0, M0 is a tumor that is very small, has not spread to the lymph nodes, and has not spread to distant organs of the body.

Once the TNM descriptions have been found, they can be grouped together into a simpler set of stages, stages 0 through stage IV (0-4). As a rule, the lower the number, the less the cancer has spread. A higher number, such as stage IV (4), means a more serious, widespread cancer.

After looking at your test results, your doctor will tell you the stage of your cancer. Be sure to ask your doctor any questions you might have about what the stage of your cancer means and how it affects your treatment options.

Go back to After Diagnosis: A Guide for Patients and Families

Last Medical Review: 03/19/2008
Last Revised: 05/22/2009