How many types of cancer treatment are there?
There are many types of cancer treatment. The National Cancer Institute lists the main ones: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy, and stem cell (blood stem cell) transplants. Other types include hyperthermia and photodynamic therapy. Hyperthermia heats body tissue to help kill cancer cells. Photodynamic therapy uses a drug that is turned on by light.
Some people with cancer have only one treatment. But most people have more than one, such as surgery with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The types you get depend on the type of cancer you have and how advanced it is.
Biomarker testing is one tool that may help you and your doctor pick a treatment. Every cancer is different. Your health care team can explain which options fit your case, and where to read more about how your type of cancer is treated.
Want the full picture? Read our complete explanation: Types of Cancer Treatment: An Overview
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