If you or a loved one has received a cancer diagnosis, you’re not alone.
With approximately 1.9 million new cancer cases diagnosed annually, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS), that’s roughly 5,250 new cases every day in the United States.
And after a diagnosis come treatment decisions.
Here, experts will simplify the most common cancer treatment options, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, surgery, targeted therapy, hormone therapy, bone marrow/stem cell transplant, and clinical trials. This will help you explore your options and empower you with knowledge during this challenging time.
Cancer is no longer the unbeatable foe it once was. As of January 2025, about 1 out of every 18 people in the United States is a cancer survivor, comprising about 5.4 percent of the population. This number is projected to surge by 24.4 percent, to 22.5 million by 2032, the National Cancer Institute says.
This progress is attributed to advancements in cancer treatments and a growing emphasis on healthier lifestyles. The following sections will examine the various treatment options contributing to this positive shift in cancer outcomes.
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Chemotherapy leverages potent chemicals to target and destroy fast-growing cells within your body, as described by the Mayo Clinic. As cancer cells tend to grow and divide rapidly, they are particularly susceptible to these medications.
Despite its effectiveness, chemotherapy can cause significant side effects, which may vary depending on the drugs used and individual responses.
Common side effects include:
Radiation therapy for cancer uses various techniques, the most common being external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and internal radiation therapy, per the Cleveland Clinic. Your radiation oncologist will carefully assess your condition and cancer type to determine the most suitable approach.
Radiation therapy operates on a simple yet powerful principle: it uses radiation, usually high-powered X-rays, to destroy cancer cells. It does this by disrupting the DNA within cancer cells, preventing them from growing or multiplying. Consequently, the cancer cells perish, and tumors begin to shrink.
While radiation therapy holds promise in cancer treatment, it can cause side effects, which may include:
RELATED: Can You Safely Skip Radiation Therapy?
In a video on the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s website, Dr. Jyoti Patel, with the oncology department at Northwestern Medical Group, explains that immunotherapy uses your body’s own immune system to fight cancer. “There are a couple of different ways to do it,” she said.
“We can stimulate your immune system or rev it up to recognize and fight cancer. We can also give patients part of the immune system, such as proteins or antibodies that help the system fight the cancer,” Patel added.
Immunotherapy can bring about various side effects. The National Cancer Institute provides the following list of immunotherapy side effects:
Surgery plays a vital role in cancer treatment and involves removing cancerous tissue from the body. The National Cancer Institute explains that there are two primary approaches: open surgery and minimally invasive surgery.
Like all cancer treatments, surgery carries potential side effects, according to the Mayo Clinic:
Targeted therapy is designed to attack specific cancer cells with precision. According to the American Cancer Society, these therapies employ drugs or substances that identify and combat particular types of cancer cells, either as a standalone treatment or in conjunction with chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation.
Cancer cells often exhibit genetic changes that set them apart from healthy cells, causing abnormal behaviors such as rapid growth and division. Targeted therapy drugs are tailored to intercept these aberrant signals. They can block cancer cells’ growth-inducing messages or trigger the cells’ self-destruction.
While targeted therapy offers promising results, it may yield side effects such as:
Hormone therapy is specifically designed to slow or halt the growth of cancers fueled by hormones, the National Cancer Institute says.
Hormone therapy serves two primary purposes:
For men undergoing hormone therapy for prostate cancer, potential side effects may include:
Conversely, women receiving hormone therapy for breast cancer may experience:
RELATED: Study Shows Some Prostate Cancer Patients May Not Need Hormone Therapy
A bone marrow transplant, also known as a stem cell transplant, is a cancer treatment that introduces healthy blood-forming stem cells into the body. This infusion replaces bone marrow that isn’t producing an adequate supply of healthy blood cells.
The Mayo Clinic explains that bone marrow transplants are employed for several reasons, including:
The transplant process involves a phase known as conditioning, wherein chemotherapy and sometimes radiation are administered. This stage serves to eliminate cancer cells, suppress the immune system and prepare the bone marrow for the incoming stem cells. The specific approach to conditioning varies based on the underlying disease and overall health.
Side effects of the conditioning process include:
Clinical trials are research studies involving people and offer promising avenues for cancer treatment, diagnosis, prevention, and symptom management. Whenever you or a loved one face a cancer diagnosis, considering participation in a clinical trial can open doors to innovative solutions.
Cancer clinical trials are thoughtfully designed to explore novel approaches for:
Each clinical trial operates under a detailed study plan called a protocol that outlines the trial’s structure, procedures, and objectives. Eligibility criteria are also included, determining who can participate based on factors like cancer type, prior therapies, genetic markers, age, medical history, and health status.
The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center recommends the following steps to be considered for a clinical trial:
It’s important to know that in many cases, your cancer care team may share potential clinical trials with you proactively.
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