About Cancer Treatment

Cancer is treated in different ways, depending on the location, type, and stage of the cancer, as well as your age and overall health. Often, cancer treatment involves a combination of treatments. Some common treatments include the following:

Surgery: an operation to find and remove the tumor
Chemotherapy: the use of drugs to kill cancer cells
Radiation therapy: the use of high-energy x-rays or other radiation particles to kill cancer cells
Immunotherapy: a treatment that stimulates or restores immune function
Targeted therapy: a treatment designed to specifically interfere with cancer cell growth and metastasis (spread).
Hormone therapy: a treatment that adds, removes, or interferes with hormones (chemicals, such as estrogen or testosterone, produced by glands in the body).
Stem cell transplantation:the use of the stem cells in the bone marrow (the place where blood cells are made) or circulating in the blood to allow higher doses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy to kill more cancer cells). Stem cells are immature cells that develop into different types of blood cells.
Clinical trials: carefully conducted tests in patients of new treatments or of potentially better ways to use current treatments.

To find specific treatment information, look for information for your type of cancer.

Finding the best treatment

Young adults face unique challenges when it comes to finding the best cancer treatment. Although age is a factor in deciding where to be treated, it is important to find doctors that have experience treating the type of cancer that has been diagnosed. Doctors who usually treat older or younger patients may not be as familiar with the best treatments and supportive care for young adults. For several types of cancer, young adults fare better with treatments that are usually given to children and teenagers. For example, several studies of older adolescents and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have shown that young adults who are treated with pediatric drug regimens live longer than when they are treated with adult drug regimens. On the other hand, young adults with carcinoma and melanoma may have better results with adult drug regimens. Therefore, it is important to find the most experienced treatment team for you, and preferably one that can provide appropriate supportive care, such as psychosocial care.

Specific recommendations for finding treatment include the following considerations:

Cancer is a disease that requires specialized treatment, so it is important to find an oncologist (doctor who specializes in treating cancer).
Not all cancers are the same. Find an oncologist who has experience treating your type of cancer. A comprehensive cancer center is an excellent place to find an oncologist, and many cancer centers are starting to offer specialized support for young adults with cancer.
Generally speaking, contact a pediatric oncologist (a doctor who treats children with cancer) if you are diagnosed with a cancer that typically occurs in children and adolescents, including some types of brain tumors, leukemia, osteosarcoma, and Ewing's sarcoma and a medical oncologist for cancers that are more common in adults, such as breast cancer, colon cancer, and melanoma.
Ask your doctor about participating in clinical trials.

Side effects

Some cancer treatments cause side effects, and most side effects can be managed with the help of your doctor. The side effects you experience may be different from what someone else experiences and depend on what type of treatment you had, the dose that you received, and the response of your body to treatment.

Fatigue is being extremely tired all the time and is a common side effect of cancer or cancer treatment. Talk with your doctor if fatigue interferes with your life. Contrary to what you may think, exercising can actually reduce the symptoms of fatigue and improve other symptoms as well. Talk with your doctor before beginning an exercise program or resuming your regular exercise routine. Read the Cancer.Net Feature: Coping With Cancer-Related Fatigue for more information.

Pain is also a common side effect, either after surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or from the tumor itself. It is very important to tell your doctor when you are in pain and the type of pain you are feeling (throbbing, burning, or a dull ache, for example). There are many ways to treat pain, including medications, physical therapy, or relaxation techniques, but your doctor can't help unless he or she knows your specific symptoms. Read the Cancer.Net Feature: Cancer Pain for more information.

Other side effects may include the following:

Nausea, which is the feeling that you are about to throw up, and vomiting, which is another term for throwing up, can happen after chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Your doctor can prescribe medications to help reduce these symptoms.
Hair loss may result from some types of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Talk to a doctor or nurse for suggestions on how to manage hair loss.
Mouth sores may occur after some types of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Some people find that sucking on ice chips before chemotherapy can help. Good oral hygiene and pain-relieving preparations (such as creams) can also help.
Fever can be a sign of infection or neutropenia, which is a low number of white blood cells. A fever should be treated immediately.
Diarrhea is frequent, watery bowel movements. If over-the-counter medications aren't helping, talk with your doctor about other medications you can take. If you do experience diarrhea, it is important to stay hydrated by drinking fluids.
Constipation is infrequent or difficult bowel movements. Eating more fiber, drinking more fluids, exercising, or taking laxatives can help, but check with your doctor first.

For more information on managing the side effects of cancer and cancer treatment, visit the Managing Side Effects section of Cancer.Net.

More Information

Cancer.Net: Cancer in Young Adults